Jailed over threat to burn homes of gardaí

A Ballincollig man who said he knew where a number gardaí lived and was going to burn down their homes was jailed for a year yesterday.

Judge David Riordan said that while the jail term must allow for the rehabilitation of the accused, it must also “put the brakes on his offending proclivities”.

At Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Aran Shanahan, aged 20, of Pine Walk, Muskerry Estate, Ballincollig, Co Cork, and Highfield Park, Ballincollig, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with the second year suspended provided that he remained under the direction of the probation service for a year after his release from jail. He was also ordered not to go within 500m of the homes of two gardaí, and to remain away from a housing estate where a number of gardaí reside, for four years.

Garda Shane Halligan testified Shanahan had a drink problem and has breached his curfew several times since the events occurred.

The first incident arose out of a routine inspection of a licensed premises. Shanahan took exception to the presence of gardaí and became aggressive towards them. “He came up and started shouting abuse at gardaí. He was arrested for public order offences. He resisted violently being conveyed to Gurranabraher Garda Station. He threatened to burn down Gurranabraher station. He also said he would burn down the station at Ballincollig.”

Shanahan then gave details of his knowledge of where a number of Ballincollig gardaí were living and threatened to burn out their homes and their cars.

On June 26, when the accused was on bail for the first incident, gardaí called to his home to check if he was keeping his curfew. “He threw a ceramic cup at us and hit me on the leg,” Garda Halligan said.

The accused then threw another cup at Garda Richard O’Donnell. The defendant appeared to pick up a knife but it was not clear if he brought it out of the house with him. He picked up a screwdriver moments later outside. Gardaí retreated to their patrol car. Shanahan pointed directly at Garda O’Donnell and threatened to kill him. He further made general threats to kill gardaí.

He was sentenced yesterday after previously pleading guilty to the charges.