Man made death threats to Garda in Castletownbere after drinking session, court told

The man also faces sentencing for criminal damage after he allegedly broke a window with a hurley

Tadas Kasiulevicius made death threats to the guard included putting his finger across his own throat while looking directly at her, the court heard. Picture Dan Linehan

A court has heard that a Castletownbere-based man who used a hurley to smash a window later threatened to kill a member of An Garda Síochána.

Sergeant Stephen O’Sullivan said the incident occurred in Castletownbere on August 17, 2020.

On that date, gardaí received a call about a window being broken with a hurley at a house at Came Point. The owner of this house also alleged that the defendant struck him on the hands with his hurley.

Garda Mark O’Donovan arrested Tadas Kasiulevicius of 7 Came Point, Castletownbere, County Cork. He was later taken from Castletownbere garda station to Bantry garda station due to the level of his aggression.

En route to the garda station he continued to be uncooperative kicking and punching the door of the personnel carrier.

At Bantry station, he was threatening towards Garda Laura O’Sullivan.

Among the comments he made were: “I know you, bitch. I will kill you, you f***ing bitch.” His death threats to the guard included putting his finger across his own throat while looking directly at her, Sgt O’Sullivan testified.

Kasiulevicius later apologised for making the threat to the guard and blamed it on alcohol.

Defence barrister, Donal O’Sullivan, said the accused had come over from Lithuania 13 years ago and was living in Castletownbere and working in fishing throughout that time.

Mr O’Sullivan said the accused was highly intoxicated on the night and that at the time he used to go binge-drinking when not fishing.

Mr O’Sullivan said:

He has stopped drinking and is attending AA. 

"He repeated his apologies throughout interview. Drinking was the root cause of this.”

The judge put sentencing back until September 8 on the charges of causing criminal damage to the house at Came Point and threatening to kill Garda Laura O’Sullivan.