Cork man made death threat to pregnant woman, allegedly shouting: 'I'm going to slit your throat'

Defendant had a large kitchen knife and was stabbing at bedroom door, trying to force his way in, where woman and her partner had barricaded themselves, court heard

Accused pleaded guilty to the crimes and now faces sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Picture: Larry Cummins

Sentencing of a man who made a knifepoint death threat to a pregnant woman, who barricaded herself into a room at her home in Glenville, was adjourned until November 27.

Detective Garda Dave Barry arrested Keith O’Leary at a house on Liam Healy Road, Farranree, Cork, and charged him with making the death threat to the young woman in the early hours of July 3. 

The defendant, who is originally from Glenville village in Co Cork, was also charged with production of a knife, damaging the house and resisting arrest on the morning in question in Glenville.

He pleaded guilty to the crimes and now faces sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Det Garda Barry objected to bail when the matter first came before the courts.

He said after 4am on Thursday, July 3, gardaí responded to a 999 call from a pregnant woman and her partner that Keith O'Leary was present with a knife threatening to kill them.

It was alleged he had a large kitchen knife in his hand and was actively stabbing at the bedroom door, attempting to force entry to the room and the man was holding it shut, effectively barricading themselves from the defendant.

Det Garda Barry said a man could be heard screaming in the background of the recorded 999 call.

The Armed Support Unit arrived within minutes, and gardaí assessed an immediate risk to life and entered the property, where they located Keith O'Leary, who physically lashed out and was tasered in order for the arrest to be made.

During the incident, it was alleged the defendant could be heard shouting: "I'm going to get you", and "I'm going to slit your throat".

Keith O’Leary pleaded guilty to two counts of threatening to kill, under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, production of a weapon, criminal damage and resisting arrest.