Detective told house ‘would be burned down’

A Limerick-based detective was told he would be killed and his house burned down, arising from a late-night garda raid on the home of an accused, a court heard.

Darren O’Halloran, aged 31, of Aurea Cottage, Dublin Rd, Limerick, has pleaded not guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to charges of threatening to kill detective garda Pat Whelan and threatening to burn down his house.

John O’Sullivan, prosecuting, opening the case to a jury of eight men and four women said it was alleged that Det Gda Whelan was among a party of gardaí who went to the address of the accused on March 29, 2015, and left some time after 2.35am. As he left, it is alleged that the accused made a remark to Det Gda Whelan about being on a white horse clip-clopping at Christmas time through a village near to where he lived.

Mr O’Sullivan said Det Gda Whelan took a phonecall at Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick on April 2, 2015, and put the call on loudspeaker. Mr O’Sullivan said it is alleged the accused identified himself to Det Gda Whelan, and said: “Look, Pat, we’ll do no more crime if ye back off me and Aaron.”

Det Gda Whelan made it clear to the accused he would not back off and it is alleged O’Halloran became aggressive.

Mr O’Sullivan said it is the prosecution case that the accused said: “I will kill ye, you c*nt. with your big yellow house and I will burn it to the ground. Don’t be coming to my house in the middle of the night.”

Mr O’Sullivan said that another garda took notes of the conversation.

The case went into legal argument and is due to resume this morning.