Man charged over threat to kill Taoiseach remanded on bail

Judge adjourns case for eight weeks to get directions from DPP

Patrick Grealish at Galway District Court in August.

A 48-year-old Connemara man charged with issuing a threat on social media to kill or cause serious harm to Taoiseach Simon Harris and his family has been remanded on continuing bail for two months.

Patrick Grealish, of 16 Garrai an Choirce, Lettermullen, Co Galway, appeared before Judge Mary Fahy at Derrynea District Court in Connemara. He had been remanded on bail when he appeared before a special sitting of Galway District Court after he was arrested in early August.

Grealish is accused of making a threat to kill or cause harm to Mr Harris and his family on August 4 this year.

The earlier court sitting was told that the offence under Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, carries a sentence of up to 10 years on conviction.

Taoiseach Simon Harris: Threats were made on social media in August.

Detective Sergeant Eamonn O’Neill of the Special Detective Unit told Judge Fahy at Derrynea District Court on Tuesday they were seeking an eight-week adjournment for directions from the DPP.

Judge Fahy adjourned the matter and remanded Grealish on continuing bail until a sitting of Derrynea District Court on November 19 this year.

Grealish did not speak during the brief hearing other than to indicate he agreed with the date.

Defence solicitor Michael Cunningham had told the earlier court sitting on August 12 that his client was the sole carer for his elderly mother and that Grealish had health issues.

Mr Cunningham told Judge Gerard Furlong at that sitting that his client would abide by all bail conditions.

Grealish, who is on social welfare and was granted free legal aid, agreed to abide by all bail conditions, including staying off all social media.

He also undertook to have no contact with the injured party, including online; to surrender his passport and not apply for new travel documents; to reside at his home in Lettermullen; to be of good behaviour at all times; to provide gardaí with a contactable phone number; to observe a curfew between 11pm and 7am, and to appear at all court sittings in relation to this matter.

He is due to appear again at Derrynea District Court on November 19.