Garda threatened with a slash hook

A garda was threatened that he would be killed by a man wielding a slash hook in what the sentencing judge described yesterday an appalling attack.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin imposed a one-year jail term on Keith Heaphy, aged 27, of 6 Hegarty Square, Blarney St, Cork, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Heaphy pleaded guilty to two charges, namely producing a long-handled slash hook and threatening to kill Garda Desmond Prendergast at Hegarty Square on Mar 16.

The sentence was made consecutive to one already being served by the accused.

The background to the incident was that there had been a chase by gardaí of another person known to Keith Heaphy, who hid in his car outside his front door.

Ray Boland, defence barrister, said the first Heaphy knew of anything wrong was when he woke up to noise outside his house and went out to find gardaí present.

It was also pointed out that, while Heaphy made threats, he did not physically assault the officer and that, when pepper spray was used on him, he caused no further difficulties.

Judge Ó Donnabháin said: “He has pleaded guilty to this appalling attack on Garda Prendergast while armed with a slash hook, the particular offence of making a threat while armed with a slash hook.

“He has a long history of drug addiction. I am not going to structure a sentence by partially suspending it as I don’t think he is suitable.

“He has had previous long sentences. On release he never took up offers available to him. The help is there for him. It can be provided through his GP but it is up to him to take it.”