Man jailed for threatening ex-partner's parents their house would go up like a Christmas tree
Conor Stewart (31) of Kilcross Court, Sandyford, Dublin 18 pleaded guilty to making an unwarranted demand with menace on May 26th, 2024.
Advertisement
Garda Aaron Carney gave evidence that Stewart called to the house in the Sandyford area.
The father of Stewart's former partner opened the door and saw Stewart was on his phone, with the person on the call appearing to tell him what to say.
Stewart told the injured party that his daughter owed a drug debt of €8,000 and said if €4,000 was not paid, 'the house would go up like a Christmas tree'.
The injured party told Stewart to leave, and he did. The entire incident was captured on a camera doorbell.
Advertisement
After his arrest, Stewart was interviewed once and made admissions. He said he was in difficulty and told he had to do it.
He also showed gardaí an injury, which he said was part of the difficulties that he himself was in.
Gda Carney said Stewart entered an early guilty plea, which was of value to the prosecution.
Stewart has 84 previous convictions, including for theft, road traffic and drugs offences. He was on bail at the time of this offence and is currently serving a sentence on a separate matter.
Advertisement
Gda Carney agreed with Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, that Stewart's offending was linked to his longstanding drugs addiction.
It was further agreed that Stewart also owed a drugs debt and was never going to get the benefit of the money that he was demanding to be paid.
Gda Carney agreed that it appeared that a third party was giving directions while Stewart was at the house, and the attempt to demand money was intended to mollify the people to whom the money was owed.
Mr O'Higgins asked the court to take into account his client's guilty plea, personal circumstances and the mitigating factors.
Advertisement
Counsel said Stewart recognises that he needs to break the cycle of offending and has signed up for drugs counselling while in custody.
Imposing sentence, Judge Orla Crowe said Stewart issued a 'serious threat' at the home of someone he knew.
Ireland
Father lost control when headbutting GAA coach at...
Read More
She said this was a one-off incident, and that Stewart left when the injured party told him. The judge added this would have been a 'frightening experience' for the innocent injured party.
Judge Crowe noted that 'to go and demand money and make threats of that nature is inherently lawless'.
She imposed a sentence of two years and three months, with the final nine months suspended for two years, to run consecutive to the sentence Stewart is currently serving.
The judge also directed Stewart to place himself under the supervision of the Probation Services for 12 months post-release.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
4 hours ago
- Sky News
British backpacker pleads guilty after fatally crashing into a father while under influence of alcohol in Australia
An English backpacker has pleaded guilty after fatally crashing into a father of two while riding an e-scooter under the influence of alcohol in Australia. Alicia Kemp, 25, was over the legal limit when she hit Thanh Phan while riding through Perth's city centre on 31 May. The 51-year-old died in hospital days later after suffering a brain bleed. His death thrust the issue of e-scooter regulations into Australia 's national spotlight, prompting the city and several other local councils to suspend e-scooter hire services indefinitely. Kemp, from Worcestershire, appeared at Perth Magistrates' Court court via video link from prison on Monday. She admitted a charge of dangerous driving causing death under the influence of alcohol. Kemp will remain in custody until she appears at Perth District Court on 31 October, when a date will be set for her sentencing. The charge of dangerous driving causing death carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Under Western Australian law, e-scooter riders must wear a helmet, be sober, carry no passengers and be over 16.
The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
Magistrate called Mr Bean has been ticked off for interrupting court to complain about a lack of parking
A MOANING magistrate called Mr Bean has been slapped on the wrist after interrupting a court to complain about the lack of parking. Alfred Bean JP of the Cheshire Bench, launched his gripe after he struggled to find a parking space outside court. But he was accused of doing so 'in a loud, rude and bullying manner'. His whingeing was similar to that of his namesake, hilarious TV character Mr Bean played by Rowan Atkinson, who always has issues parking his yellow Mini. Mr Justice Keehan heard two complaints were made by members of court staff about interactions they had with Mr Bean. 'One reported that Mr Bean had interrupted a court session to complain about the lack of parking in a loud, rude and bullying manner. 'The other described being subject to an aggressive rant by Mr Bean, in which he spoke over them in a raised voice. 'Both reported Mr Bean stating he would leave court if the issue occurred again in future,' the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said. A spokesman for the office said Mr Bean had explained the stress caused by the parking situation, as well as his personal circumstances. He denied shouting or being aggressive but admitted his voice may have been slightly raised due to his stress and frustration. Mr Bean also maintained that he was unaware the court session had begun. The spokesman added: 'He expressed regret about his behaviour, which had fallen below his usual standards, and stated that he did not intend to be rude or disrespectful. Mr Bean's funniest moments - from getting his head stuck in a turkey to the laundry mix up 'He added that he had attempted to apologise soon after but was told not to contact the complainants. 'He highlighted his 12-year unblemished conduct record and ongoing commitment to his role as a magistrate.' A member of the North West Region Conduct Advisory Committee decided Mr Bean 'was not sufficiently circumspect in his conduct and should have remained calm and professional, despite his frustration.' The magistrate has been issued with formal advice for misconduct over his poor behaviour. 1
Telegraph
14 hours ago
- Telegraph
The logistical challenge of Palestine Action
The arrest of over 500 protesters in London at the weekend for supporting the proscribed group Palestine Action poses a major logistical challenge for the courts. Thousands of cases are already stuck in a backlog that has built up since the pandemic, with trials often set for years ahead. In addition, the prisons are full to bursting, so much so that criminals are being let out even earlier than normal to free up places. If these demonstrations, ostensibly in favour of free speech, continue in the weeks ahead how will the system cope? There is an argument that Palestine Action should not have been designated a terror group in the first place. It does not conform to the usual description of an organisation intent on killing innocent people and forcing policy change through fear. There are many, mostly on the Left but not exclusively so, who consider the ban to have been excessive. But this issue was thrashed out in Parliament, where MPs and peers agreed with the Government's assertion that it met the criteria for proscription. This followed an attack that inflicted damage on two RAF aircraft. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has said that PA is not 'non-violent' and that more information about its malign intentions would be revealed in future court cases. The fact remains that those who consider themselves martyrs for free speech are breaking the law and should suffer the consequences of doing so. Courts managed to act swiftly against rioters last summer following the Southport murders and can do so again. If they have to sit over August and round the clock, so be it; the logjams in the system must not be an excuse for law-breaking to go unpunished. Moreover, if the Government is serious (which we doubt) about removing foreign criminals the moment they are convicted that will free up spaces in our jails. To do that however, ministers will need to resile from Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights which allows criminals to stay even when the courts have ordered their deportation on the grounds that they have family in this country. Furthermore, will the offender's home country take them back and, if so, impose the punishment they faced in the UK or let them get away with criminal behaviour? The Government managed to extract some supportive headlines for its plan; but will it really see it through, or is this just the hot air of high summer?
