Man acquitted as alleged threat was in ‘past tense’

A MAN has been acquitted of threatening to kill the father and sister of his former business partner after a week-long trial at the Special Criminal Court.

The non-jury court ruled the alleged threat made by Michael Bridgeman, aged 51, as described in evidence, was made in the past tense and could not amount in law to a threat as to future conduct, which would be “essential for a conviction in this case”.

Bridgeman, of Glenview, Ballyneety, Co Limerick, had denied making a threat to Mark Heffernan, aged 28, to kill or cause serious harm to his father Mark Heffernan Sr, aged 47, at John Carew Park on a date unknown between September 1 and October 25, 2008.