Father-of-two who threatened neighbour receives suspended sentence

A father-of-two who threatened to cut his neighbour's throat, slice him up and burn his house down following a dispute has been given a four-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Paul Cashell, who has anger-management problems and is addicted to heroin and alcohol, produced an axe during the course of the dispute.

Cashell (aged 35) of Dolmen Court, Ballymun pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause harm to his neighbour. He also pleaded guilty to possessing an axe and producing it in a threatening manner on September 20, 2008 in Ballymun.

Garda Linda Lowry told Mr Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, that the incident happened when Cashell claimed his neighbour’s children were engaging in antisocial behaviour near his home and he became involved with them verbally.

The children returned to their parents to tell them what had happened and when one of the parents arrived at Cashell’s house, Cashell started to threaten him by shouting: “I will slice you up,” and “I will bury an axe in your head and burn your house down.”

Cashell chased his neighbour up the road with an axe-like weapon in his hand shouting: “You’re going to get it now.”

Ms Elva Duffy BL, defending, submitted that Cashell, who has 11 previous convictions, overreacted but had “no intention of using the axe-like weapon”.

“He meant it all as a figure of speech and had no intention of carrying out the threats,” Ms Duffy submitted.

Cashell, who is now receiving treatment for his drug addiction, became involved in drugs when he was 12 years of age and has a long-term struggle with depression.

“He understands he did cause real fear to his victim,” said Ms Duffy.

Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a sentence of four years, suspended in full for three years on strict conditions.