A Ballina man leapt over the counter in the local civic offices and threatened two housing officers, a court has heard.
Stephen Maughan of 16 Fenian Row, Ballina, pleaded guilty at the local district court to threatening to harm the two public servants, contrary to Section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, on September 8, 2022.
He also admitted a public order breach on the same date.
Sgt Conor McShane told the court the accused called at the Civic Offices in Ballina for a discussion with housing officer Aidan Mulvihill and a second male official about a proposed council house. He became irate when he was informed that his new residence was going to be in a particular location.
Sgt McShane said Maughan was verbally abusive and used expletives before he jumped over the counter and lunged at Mr Mulvihill.
The defendant then threatened the men and warned them: “I will get you, I will see you down the town.”
Sgt McShane said after Maughan climbed back over the counter after several minutes and left in a state of rage. Both officials were shaken and felt quite traumatised by the incident, which was reported to gardaí.
Maughan has no previous convictions and has not come to Garda attention since the incident.
Solicitor Peter Loftus said his client made admissions at an early stage and apologised in his Garda statements. Maughan had gone to the Civic Offices following previous discussions about his application for a council house.
“He put in a previous request that he would be housed in a particular area, and he learnt he was going to be housed in a location he did not want to be in,” Mr Loftus said. “Things came to a head, and he overreacted and hopped over the counter.”
Mr Loftus said Maughan accepts he has an anger issue and intends to commence an anger management programme on November 20 to address his problems.
Judge Fiona Lydon said it is very important she gets an understanding of how the offence affected the complainants and she requested victim impact statements from both council employees. Judge Lydon adjourned the case until November 28.
