Cork man threatened to kill three gardaí 'doing their duty protecting the people of Cork', judge said

Judge told defendant his anti-authority attitude needed to be addressed

Accused received a three- year suspended sentence. Picture: Larry Cummins 

A sentencing judge told a man who threatened to kill three gardaí: “If we don’t have gardaí upholding the law, we are going nowhere.” 

Judge Sinead Behan told 46-year-old John Quilligan his anti-authority attitude needed to be addressed.

“Nothing justified making threats to gardaí, putting them in fear — serving members of An Garda Síochána protecting the people of Cork were threatened when doing their duty,” the judge said.

The defendant was before Cork Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing that included charges of making death threats against three detective gardaí — Sharon Sweeney, Liam Lynch and Seán Kelleher.

When John Quilligan was informed by the gardaí near his home at Lakelands Crescent, Mahon, Cork, that he was failing to comply with conditions imposed on him from an unrelated case, he became irate.

Even after he was told to calm down, he continued to be abusive and make threats to them.

The probation officer who met with the defendant to prepare a pre-sentencing report noted “he struggles to have any victim empathy”. 

Judge Behan said in his favour was the fact that other than this incident, he had no convictions since 2014.

The judge also heard evidence the accused had mental health issues.

Mr Quilligan spoke up during the sentencing hearing and said he was very sorry for threatening the guards and he should not have behaved the way he did.

A three-year suspended sentence was imposed on John Quilligan, who brought €2,000 compensation to court.