Garda: I feared for my life

A garda has told a jury he "feared for his life" after being threatened by a father and son that he would be shot and left in a ditch.

Ian Dutton (aged 48) of Greenfort Lawns, Clondalkin has pleaded not guilty to three counts of threats to kill between September 2008 and April 2009.

His son Graham Dutton (aged 26) of the same address, pleaded not guilty to two counts of threats to kill during the same period.

Detective Garda Stuart Gleeson told Mr Colm O'Briain BL, prosecuting, that the father and son threatened to have him shot on a number of occasions.

On day one of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, he told the jury that the first threat happened after he pulled over a car being driven by Ian’s wife Siobhan and in which Ian was a passenger.

He said he intended to search the car under the Misuse of Drugs Act during which Ian Dutton became very aggressive.

"He became extremely aggressive and began to abuse me. He came within inches of my face and said he was going to have me shot," he said.

Det Gda Gleeson said that Dutton's son, Graham, arrived on the scene from a separate car and said he was going to have him "done".

"He abused me and said I was going to be shot and found in the bottom of a ditch in Kerry," he said.

He told the court that he took the threats "very seriously" because the two men knew details about his personal life including where he lived and what pub he socialised in.

Det Gda Gleeson said that Graham was able to recite details about his private life, including the car he drove and the route he took to work.

He said that Graham also knew that his girlfriend was a trainee barrister and that his family were involved in the greyhound business.

"I took it as a very serious threat, because of his (Ian’s) anger, his demeanour and how close he was to my face," he said.

Det Gda Gleeson told Mr Remy Farrell SC, defending Graham, that he could not explain why his notebook only made reference to the threats by Ian and not his son.

He described it as a "mistake" and said he was sure it was both men that made the threats to his life.

The court heard that the Dutton family had made a formal complaint against Det Gda Gleeson for harassment and intimidation.

Mr Farrell put it to the court that no threats were made against Det Gda Gleeson's life.

The detective denied that the only threats had been to get him fired because of his harassment of the Dutton family.

Mr Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC, defending Ian, said that Graham had threatened to have Det Gda Gleeson "done" for harassment and that he would be left working "on a desk in the a***hole in Kerry".

Det Gda Gleeson denied this and said the threats had been against his life and repeated that he had been told he would be found in a ditch in Kerry.

The trial continues before Judge Desmond Hogan and a jury of six men and six women.