Five years for man who threatened garda

A man who threatened a garda while on bail for possessing cocaine valued over €20,000 of has been given a five year sentence by Judge Tony Hunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Daniel Prenderville (aged 21), told a garda who had been involved in a search of his house during which explosives were found: "Remember that pipe bomb - I have one for you."

Prenderville, of Seagull House, Rutland Avenue, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine valued at €20,177 at his home on November 11, 2005 and making a threat to kill or cause harm to Garda Adrian Kinsella in Rialto on March 14, 2007.

Judge Tony Hunt imposed a five year sentence with the final two years suspended on the drugs charge and a two year suspended sentence on the bomb threat charge.

Garda Mark Gibbons told prosecuting counsel, Ms Monika Leech BL, that gardai acting on confidential information found a several packages of cocaine and a weighing scales in Prenderville’s bedroom.

Detective Garda Rory Geelan told prosecuting counsel, Ms Mary Rose Gearty BL, that in early 2007 gardai including Gda Kinsella found explosives and ammunition during a search of Prenderville’s home but he had never been charged in relation to that finding.

Det Gda Geelan said a car driven by Prenderville’s girlfriend was observed turning away from a checkpoint on the South Circular Road on March 14, 2007. The car was stopped by gardai and Prenderville who was a front seat passenger, pointed at Gda Kinsella and said: "Remember that pipe bomb - I have one for you."

Prenderville had four previous convictions for public order and road traffic offences.

Defence counsel, Mr Michael O’Higgins SC (with Mr Kerida Naidoo BL), said Prenderville’s mother had died tragically from cancer some weeks before the second offence and he had also suffered other family bereavements, including his young cousin who died in a road traffic accident.

Mr O’Higgins said Prenderville as a young man had started "running with a wrong crowd" and began appearing on the garda radar.

"He is a young impulsive man who was using cocaine and alcohol and was in a vulnerable position which was exploited by others who were making a profit," said Mr O’Higgins who added that Prenderville was nolw taking tangible steps towards rehabilitation.