'Do you want to die, black boy?': Cork man accused of having weapon and making death threat

James Hogan, of 60 Liffey Park, Mayfield, Cork, appeared at Cork District Court on the charge of making a death threat and two charges in relation to an alleged weapon.

 The DPP directed trial by indictment in the case against a man accused of arming himself with a screwdriver and shouting at another young man in Cork, “Do you want to die, black boy?” 

James Hogan, of 60 Liffey Park, Mayfield, Cork, appeared at Cork District Court on the charge of making a death threat and two charges in relation to an alleged weapon.

Sergeant Gearóid Davis said the Director of Public Prosecutions decided that the case should be dealt with by indictment at Cork Circuit Criminal Court or there could be a signed plea of guilty entered at the district court for sentencing at the circuit court.

Mr Buttimer said that this represented progress in the case and said the accused would consent to a three-week remand in custody in the circumstances to consider this.

Garda Ray Costello outlined the allegations against the accused when bail was refused initially.

“On July 12, gardaí received a call that a male had threatened another male with a screwdriver and shouted, 'Do you want to die, black boy?'

“The screwdriver was disposed of in a nearby bin. Gardaí went to the scene and the male was identified by gardaí as James Hogan.

“The screwdriver was retrieved from the bin. CCTV was downloaded which shows James Hogan holding the screwdriver and shouting at the injured party.

“An injured party statement was taken and there were two witnesses, with one stating that the screwdriver had been put in the bin, and the other witness saying what occurred.” 

James Hogan, who is aged around 20, is charged with being in possession of a screwdriver, contrary to the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, producing it and making a threat to kill or cause serious injury.