Longford Circuit Court: Man refuses to live far away from woman he threatened to kill

A man who repeatedly told a Garda that he wanted to kill a woman he insisted he’d had a relationship with is due to reappear before Judge Keenan Johnson at Mullingar Circuit Court on November 26, after efforts are made to secure accommodation upon his release from prison.

Judge Johnson had previously stated he wanted Ivan Miller (27), of Cartronboy, Ballymahon, Co Longford, to live “preferably outside of this jurisdiction” upon his release from prison.

When Mr Miller reappeared at Longford Circuit Court last week, Judge Johnson was told that the accused “doesn’t want to leave the jurisdiction”.

“I’d like to live with my family if at all possible,” Mr Miller explained.

The accused is charged with threatening to kill the woman on October 20, 2022. When asked by Garda Dave Conroy if he was going to harm the woman, Mr Miller said ‘I’m going to kill her’. When cautioned and asked again if he was going to harm the woman, he again said ‘I am, I’m going to kill her’.

“The difficulty is your family lives too close to the victim,” said Judge Johnson, when Mr Miller reappeared before him last week.

“So in other words, you’re taking my family away from me as well,” Mr Miller protested. “The threat wasn’t made directly to the woman. I don’t see why I have to move so far away. I find that very unfair.”

Judge Johnson adjourned the case to November 26 in Mullingar Circuit Court, but requested the probation service attempt to source accommodation for Mr Miller, “not within 40 or 50 kilometres of the injured party”.