Man threatened son with axe in row over flights 

A man threatened his son with an axe at their home in Letterkenny following a dispute over airline tickets.

Milan Horvat was before Letterkenny District Court this week over the incident at Parkview Drive, Letterkenny, on August 10, 2022.

Hornet has been charged that he did, in the course of a dispute, produce in a manner likely unlawfully to intimidate another person, an article capable of inflicting serious injury, to wit, an axe.

Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that gardai were called to Parkview Drive at 3.54pm on the day in question.

An argument had taken place between Horvat and his son over airline tickets. Horvat became very aggressive and went to the garage to get an axe. Horvat subsequently held the axe high and was waving it at his son. He attempted to get into the house with the axe, but was stopped.

Sergeant Collins said an axe was retrieved by gardai. When questioned, Horvat said he had the axe for chopping wood.

A translator was present in court to assist Horvat, who is aged 66, in the matter.

Solicitor for Horvat, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said this incident took place after the Covid-19 lockdown and this was due to be the parties’ first time flying to their home country since.

“There has been communication between the family and matters have resolved,” Mr Gallagher said. “Unfortunately, this was a family situation that got out of hand.”

Mr Gallagher said Horvat no longer resides with the family.

 Judge Éiteáin Cunningham said she viewed the incident as ‘a serious matter’. Judge Cunningham said a report before the court was ‘not at all favourable’ and noted that Horvat’s attitude in relation to the case ‘is not impressive’.

Judge Cunningham adjourned the case until February 19, 2024. “We’ll see how we get over the Christmas period,” she said. “The court takes a very serious view and is not impressed with the manner he has dealt with the Probation Service.”