Man convicted of attempting to intimidate witness

A youth will be sentenced next week for attempting to intimidate a victim, who had part of his ear bitten off, to drop the charges.

Dean Chalkey (aged 18) tried to kick down the victim’s door, called him a rat and broke a car window. Another man has already pleaded guilty to biting the victim’s ear in a random attack when the victim tried to stop him from stealing his car. This other accused faces sentence next year.

Chalkey of Coultry Park, Ballymun pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to intimidation of a witness and criminal damage at Longdale Terrace, Ballymun on April 28 this year. Judge Katherine Delahunt said he faces a “very significant sentence” when he appears again next week.

Garda Patrick O’Gorman told prosecuting counsel, Mr Colm O’Briain BL, that Mr Anthony Finnegan was asleep in his home with his girlfriend when he was woken by kicks to his front door.

He opened the door to see Chalkey and a co-accused standing in the driveway. They then shouted, “you’re only a dirty rat” and “you’re not to have anything more to do with the gardaí.”

When Mr Finnegan’s girlfriend called the gardaí on her mobile Chalkey said, “Don’t be calling the police” and told them to “drop the charges.”

The two left but returned shortly after. Chalkey shouted, “go on you f****** rat” before picking up a brick and throwing it through the windscreen of a car belonging to a neighbour.

They then fled and gardaí were called. They found Chalkey and his co-accused near-by. The two were very drunk and Chalkey tried to resist arrest. Back-up was called and it took three members to restrain him.

Gda O’Gorman said the incident had significant effects on Mr Finnegan and he now worried for the safety of his girlfriend and six children. He said Chalkey has 11 previous convictions for minor offences.

Defence counsel, Ms Fiona Murphy BL, said Chalkey was persuaded by his co-accused to go along on the night. She said he was very drunk and wanted to apologise to the victim.