
Man charged over TikTok threats to 'slice Irish babies'
Beniamin Petre, of no fixed abode, was charged under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 and under the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024.
Detective Garda Mark Russell arrested the accused in Laois on Wednesday under Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. He was conveyed to Abbeyleix Garda Station.
RTE reported that Gardai are awaiting directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions and further charges may be applied.
Mr Petre's defence counsel Josephine Fitzpatrick said that her client was not seeking bail and was consenting to be remanded in custody.
Judge Andrew Cody remanded Mr Petre in custody to appear again at Portlaoise District Court on June 5 by video link.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Minors behind many attacks on Indian citizens
The Minister for Justice has said that many of the recent attacks on members of the Indian community appear to have been carried out by young people which, he said, poses a particular challenge within the criminal justice system. Jim O'Callaghan was speaking after he met with representatives of the Ireland India Council and the Federation of Indian Communities in Ireland, to discuss the recent attacks. The attacks have prompted the Indian Embassy to issue a warning to its citizens living and working in Ireland. Mr O'Callaghan said that what he found most concerning about the attacks was that the majority appeared to have been carried out by young people. "Regrettably, it appears to be the case that very many of the offenses appear to be perpetrated by persons under the age of 18 and that does pose a particular challenge for us within the criminal justice system, to ensure that individuals who are under 18, who commit criminal offenses are brought before our courts, and that they do, in fact, face a sanction," he said. He said he had been informed that Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers were engaging with the respective communities and youth groups on the matter. The minister added that he had been engaging extensively with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris about the matter and that action had been taken to support the Indian community. Minister O'Callaghan said that Senior Investigating Officers had been assigned to investigate all reported incidents, and that he hoped to see progress on those investigations soon. "Any attack against innocent members of the public such as those suffered by members of the Indian community are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated," he stated. "Attacks on individuals because of their inherent characteristics including race are abhorrent to the values of our republic and are condemned by any right-thinking people." The Minister pointed out that laws had recently been amended by the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024 to ensure any attack motivated by hate will, on conviction, result in increased sentencing parameters for the sentencing judge, adding that "there are severe consequences for the perpetrators of these attacks". More: President Higgins condemns 'despicable' attacks on Indian community


Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Founder of gossip website Tattle Life faces up to 40 more libel actions, court hears
The founder of controversial gossip website Tattle Life is being threatened with up to 40 further libel actions, the High Court in Belfast heard on Thursday. Counsel for Sebastian Bond disclosed the scale of potential new claims as a judge refused to relax an order freezing £1.8m (€2.1m) of his assets. Mr Bond has already been sued in a landmark defamation and harassment case taken by Co Antrim-based entrepreneurs Neil and Donna Sands. The couple were awarded £300,000 in damages over abusive comments posted on Tattle Life following a two-year legal battle to uncover the operator of the online forum. READ MORE Neil Sands (43) and wife Donna (34) sued after postings were published in 2021 on the website, which hosts message boards and comments about influencers, celebrities and other members of the public. A judge who dealt with their case said the site had been set up to deliberately inflict hurt and harm by allowing the anonymous trashing of reputations and 'peddling untruths for profit'. In June Mr Bond was named as a founder of Tattle Life after reporting restrictions were lifted. Assets linked to him and two companies based in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong have also been frozen to ensure the damages award and associated costs can be met. Mr Bond is now indicating he may challenge the court's jurisdiction and seek to have the judgment made against him set aside. At a hearing on Thursday, his barrister argued the order should be varied so he could access assets to pay for lawyers to represent him properly. David Mitchell said his client should not have to sell off separate cryptocurrency holdings of £1.6m, incurring capital gains tax of up to 24 per cent in the process. 'That is manifestly unfair and unnecessarily complicated when it would be more straightforward to permit him access to frozen UK bank accounts in order to fund this litigation,' Mr Mitchell said. He said it would be 'a travesty of justice' if the defendant was forced to sell Bitcoin and then ultimately succeeded in having the judgment set aside. 'It is Mr Bond's case that a campaign has been conducted against him where other potential plaintiffs are being encouraged to bring proceedings,' Mr Mitchell said. He revealed that up to 40 letters threatening possible further legal actions have now been sent. 'Mr Bond doesn't have the funds to pay for lawyers to represent him in any of these escalating claims,' Mr Mitchell said. 'It highlights the extreme predicament he finds himself in as a result of the freezing order.' But Peter Girvan, for Mr and Mrs Sands, said they were facing a 'moving target' in trying to establish the defendant's finances. 'My clients' concern is that Mr Bond is trying to ringfence £1.6m in Bitcoin ... and if things don't go well for him he's at least got his crypto assets and can disappear with them,' he said. Ruling on the legal bid, Mr Justice Humphreys cited a previously identified risk that funds could be dissipated. Describing the Bitcoin as accessible 'at the click of a button', the judge identified no evidence for the tax-liability claims amid uncertainty over Mr Bond's residential status. 'The defendant has access to very considerable sums of money represented by cryptocurrency assets which can be liquidated by him for the purpose of paying for his legal representation,' he said.


Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Gardai recover 'stolen' motorbikes and scramblers as appeal issued to owners
Gardai have recovered a number of motorbikes and scramblers which are believed to have been stolen or used in criminal activity, following a major search operation in Co Dublin. As part of an ongoing investigation, officers from Ballymun Garda station conducted searches in the Dublin 11 and Dublin 9 areas between Monday (August 11) and Wednesday (August 13). "During these searches, Gardaí recovered five motorbikes and scramblers believed to have been stolen or used in criminal activity," a garda spokesperson said in a statement. The four motorbikes recovered that are believed to have been stolen include a red Yamaha Tracer 900GT, a black Royal Enfield motorcycle, a Kawasaki Z500 and a blue Yamaha motorcycle. The owners of the stolen motorbikes have been urged to contact the Gardai (Image: An Garda Siochana) A fifth vehicle, a scrambler, was seized as part of an investigation into dangerous driving and the sale of illegal drugs. All of the vehicles seized have been subject to technical examination. Gardai are hoping to reunite the suspected stolen motorbikes with their owners and anyone who believes the bikes may belong to them have been urged to contact the Gardai. The seizures came as part of a number of searches in the Dublin 11 and 9 areas earlier this week (Image: An Garda Siochana) "Anyone who believes they are the owner of these vehicles, which may have been stolen in recent months, is asked to contact Ballymun Garda Station on 01 666 4400," a garda spokesperson said. For the latest news and breaking news visit Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. Follow us on Twitter @IrishMirror - the official Irish Mirror Twitter account - real news in real time. We're also on Facebook/irishmirror - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Irish Daily Mirror, Irish Sunday Mirror and Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week