Dundalk Court: Man admitted intimidating witness in separate court case

A 44 year old man who admitted intimidating a witness in a separate court case, has been given a three and a half year suspended sentence at Dundalk Circuit Court.

Judge Dara Hayes told Conor McLaughlin of Cornamucklagh, Omeath that if he comes back before him again he'll have no option but to activate the sentence.

The victim told gardai she had been travelling in a car with two adults and two children in the Omeath area, and noticed the defendant overtaking another car.

Conor McLaughlin had been directed to stay out of the area, as part of his bail conditions for a separate Circuit Court matter.

The woman got out to take photos as proof of this breach of bail, and he shouted at her that she was a rat.

As the victim was heading back towards the village, the defendant rammed back of the car she was in at 60 to 70 mph and tried to go to the side of it, but couldn't due to oncoming traffic. In all he rammed the car four or five times. The court heard a woman who was in his car, could be seen hitting him and telling him to stop.

When gardaí arrived at his home, a woman claimed he wasn't there, but they returned with the ASU and heard rustling in the attic, where the defendant, who had a black eye was located in a hole in the wall.

He had 40 previous convictions and is serving a sentence that is due to end next month. The Defence barrister said his client had a prior interaction, and claimed his black eye was inflicted by one of the passenger's in the other car and windows had been smashed at his home.

The court heard the 44 year old self-referred himself to the Merchants Quay Project, has engaged in one to one counselling and says he has "learnt to stop and think and not to act out of impulse".

Judge Dara Hayes noted the witness intimidation offence, which is serious in itself, was also an attack on the criminal justice system. He added there were young children in the car that was rammed and Mr. McLaughlin was on bail for a pattern of offending against the same victim.

However, he noted in mitigation, the defendant had pleaded guilty, has enhanced prisoner status and has been of good behaviour in prison.

He imposed concurrent sentences of three and a half years for that offence and causing criminal damage to the VW Passat, in addition to six months for a dangerous driving charge along with a driving ban of four and a half years.

Addressing Conor McLaughlin he added "I've given you a big opportunity. If you come back before me again he'll have no option but to activate the suspended sentence.