Dublin man who threatened to kill his former partner jailed for a year
Eimear Dodd
A Dublin man who threatened his former partner has been jailed for one year.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the man called his ex-partner and made the threat to kill her several hours after being told a serious allegation had been made about him.
Defence counsel Colm Hennessy BL said his client was “very upset” about the nature of the allegation, which he told the court was of a “sexual nature towards a child”.
Paul Carroll SC, prosecuting, told the court that a disclosure had been made, but that case was later withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions following a clarification.
The 26-year-old man pleaded guilty to sending a message of a menacing character by telephone in November 2022.
Evidence was heard that the man was arrested in early November 2022 on foot of outstanding warrants, and at this point, he became aware of the allegation.
He was brought to the Criminal Courts of Justice and was granted bail. Several hours after he became aware of the allegation, the man made the call threatening his former partner.
The woman told gardaí that the man said he “was going to kill you, and your junkie boyfriend and slice your face”.
He used his brother's girlfriend's phone and made the call as he was leaving the courts building.
His phone had been seized by gardaí, the court was told.
The call lasted one minute and six seconds. The woman felt scared for herself and her family. She and the couple's child also went to stay with relatives.
The man initially denied making the call.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman said she is constantly afraid and suffers with anxiety.
She said she still believes every word the man said. She said she has not had a new relationship since breaking up with the man and does not intend to, as she remains “frightened for my life”.
The man has nine previous convictions, including drugs offences, assault causing harm, and obstruction.
He has not come to garda attention since this incident, has had no contact with the woman and complied with all bail conditions.
The man is working full-time and in a new relationship.
Mr Hennessy submitted to the court that his client was under “considerable stress” at the time he made the threat and the “red mist descended”.
He said his client accepts responsibility for his wrongdoing and asked the court to consider dealing with the case in a non-custodial manner.
Imposing sentence on Wednesday, Judge Martin Nolan noted there were difficulties between the parties arising from the allegation.
He said the court took into account “to some degree” the context of the offending, along with the mitigation and the man's circumstances.
“You cannot be threatening people that you are going to kill them or cause them serious harm”, Judge Nolan said, before handing the man a one-year sentence.
The judge directed the man should be given credit for any time served on this matter.
