John Murray, 39, of Derragh, Dunmanway, Co Cork, was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to damaging the station, threatening to kill Garda Heather Chandler, and dangerous driving.

Gardaí claim that a man purposely drove his car into a garda station, then the following day invaded the back office of the station, knocking over a CCTV monitor and phone, and threatening the garda on duty.

An important witness in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder investigation was never assured by gardai she would not have to go to court: that would be “ridiculous”, a retired garda detective superintendent told the High Court.