Death-threat accused jailed

A man who threatened to kill his estranged wife at her new home in Swords and led gardai on a high speed car chase with his seven-year-old son in the back-seat through north Dublin has received a four year suspended sentence.

A man who threatened to kill his estranged wife at her new home in Swords and led gardaí on a high speed car chase with his seven-year-old son in the back-seat through north Dublin has received a four year suspended sentence.

Charlie O'Neill (aged 44), of Balcurris Road, Ballymun picked up a knife in his wife's kitchen during an argument and told her: "I'll put this in your head."

Judge Patrica Ryan said the incident arose "in the context of a family breakdown" which was a "very sad occasion" for O'Neill who had since been forgiven by his wife. Judge Ryan banned him from driving for one year and ordered him to perform 100 hours of community service.

O'Neill pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to kill Barbara O'Neill on January 5, 2005 and also to criminal damage, reckless endangerment and dangerous driving in north Dublin on December 30, 2004.

Detective Sergeant Cormac Brennan told Sean Guerin BL, prosecuting, that O'Neill lived with his wife for over 20 years before the relationship broke down. He had gone to her new home in Swords on December 30, 2004 to see their seven year-old son and had a row with her before leaving with the boy.

O'Neill then rang his wife from the car saying he would not return their son. She called gardai who spotted O'Neill's car at traffic lights on the Finglas Road. When asked to pull over he took off at high speed.

Det. Sgt Brennan said O'Neill drove at speeds up to 100 miles per hour, broke seven sets of red lights and overtook traffic on the wrong side of the road. His child was in the back of the car throughout the eleven minute chase.

Gardaí lost him as he overtook a double decker bus on the wrong side of the road but later noticed him parked in Finglas. He saw gardai approaching his car and sped off striking the garda vehicle.

Later that night he contacted gardai saying he had taken pills and was going to The Mater Hospital where he handed over his son.

Det Sgt Brennan said on January 5, 2005 he went back to his wife's home and argued with her. Mrs O'Neill ignored him but he took a knife from the kitchen and told her:"I'll put this in your head."

She told gardaí she was terrified and believed he would use the weapon.

Det. Sgt Brennan said O'Neill was well known to gardai. He had 17 previous convictions for drugs, criminal damage, possession of a knife and public order offences. He had never been employed.

Mrs O'Neill told Judge Ryan that she was now on better terms with her estranged husband and was happy that her son is safe in his company.

Padraig Dwyer BL, defending, said his client's behaviour was totally unacceptable, that he had since attended counselling and apologised to his wife, son and gardaí.