'Stay away from my family': Galway man jailed for online threat against Simon Harris

Tánaiste tells court online threat against his wife and children caused real fear and endangered his family

Patrick Grealish, of Garraí An Choirce, Lettermullen, Co Galway, made an online threat to kill Mr Harris and harm his family on 4 August 2024. FIle picture: Andrew Downes

Tánaiste Simon Harris has told a 49-year-old Connemara man who made an online threat to kill him to stay away from his family.

Mr Harris said the words of people who hide behind a keyboard and do not reveal their identity can still cause real pain and worry.

Patrick Grealish, of Garraí An Choirce, Lettermullen, Co Galway, made an online threat to kill Mr Harris and harm his family on 4 August 2024.

The defendant, who has 70 previous convictions, pleaded guilty and Judge Fiona Lydon sentenced him to eight months’ imprisonment, suspending the final four months, at Derrynea District Court in Connemara on Tuesday afternoon.

“That night when you decided to threaten my children and my wife, you violated our family home,” Mr Harris said in a victim impact statement handed to the court by Detective Sergeant Eamonn O’Neill of the Special Detective Unit.

“I would rather not be doing this but I do think it’s important that the individual before the court understands the impact of his actions against me and my family,” added Mr Harris.

“I know so much of the world is online these days but I want you to know that when you hide behind your keyboard and a username which doesn’t reveal who you are, your words still have real impact and your threats cause hurt, pain and worry.

“Imagine sitting at home at 10pm one night to receive a message to your social media account telling you that someone wants to harm your wife and children and vividly suggesting what should happen to them? Imagine that happening against a backdrop and context of a family having experienced sustained threats from other sources in the time preceding that message?

“How would you feel? To be reading that someone wants to harm your young children. That someone wants to harm your loved ones.

“Do you think when you type the message and press send of the impact? Is it done with serious intent to carry out the threat? Is it done in the hope it inspires others to do so? Or is simply done without any thought given to it and the pain and worry it causes?” 

Simon Harris said the words of people who hide behind a keyboard and do not reveal their identity can still cause real pain and worry.

Mr Harris said he believed there was a real danger to his family’s safety arising from Grealish’s threat.

“We live in a world where threats of violence to political figures are becoming more commonplace and now also one where people’s families seem fair game too.

“I don't know you. I don't know anything about you. I would never wish you any ill. Sadly you didn't afford the same basic respect to my family. I genuinely believe your actions endangered us either directly with a threat you hoped to realise or by posting a threat in the hope of inspiring others.

“Your actions are not consequence free. They cannot be. Please stay away from my family,” added the Tánaiste.

Grealish did not speak during the 12-minute hearing. Gardaí arrested him shortly after the online threat in August 2024 and he pleaded guilty in October last year.

Judge Lydon heard that Grealish has 70 previous convictions — 46 for theft and 24 for road traffic offences. 

Detective Sergeant O’Neill said Grealish had received two suspended sentences for theft offences involving credit cards and had also completed a community service order.

Judge Lydon said a probation report assessed the risk of reoffending as low. It stated that Grealish was emotionally unstable at the time of the offence, exacerbated by alcohol consumption. Two close family friends had died around that time.

The report also stated that Grealish made admissions while detained, said he had no intention of carrying out the threats, expressed remorse and wrote a letter of apology. He no longer drinks alcohol and has not come to garda attention since August 2024. Grealish, an only child, is the sole carer for his elderly mother, who has dementia.

Judge Lydon said the offence was serious and warranted a custodial sentence.

“The threats of violence against political figures are coming to the fore more frequently and have a harrowing impact on those at the receiving end as is the position evidenced by the victim impact statement produced to the court,’ she said.

She sentenced Grealish to eight months’ imprisonment, suspending the final four months in light of his guilty plea, the positive probation report, his remorse, his continued abstinence from alcohol and intoxicants, and his engagement with his GP.

Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal.