Man pleads guilty to brandishing weapon in Moville incident

A man has pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm during an incident in which he brandished a weapon.

Iliia Biletskyi appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court in connection with an incident at Riverwood, Moville, on October 29, 2024.

The 19-year-old admitted two offences when he was arraigned before Judge John Aylmer.

Biletskyi is charged with making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a person. The charge is contrary to section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.

Biletskyi is also charged that while committing an offence, to wit assault, in the course of a dispute that he produced in a manner likely to unlawfully intimidate another person an article capable of inflicting serious harm, to wit, box cutting/Stanley knife handle. 

That charge is contrary to section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.

Biletskyi was aided by a Ukrainian interpreter through a brief appearance.

When the charges were put to him, Biletskyi pleaded guilty.

Barrister for the accused, Mr Damien Crawford BL, said a full probation report would be appropriate in the case.

Judge Aylmer sought a probation report and asked that it include an assessment as to Biletskyi’s suitability for community service.

Bail was granted on the same terms and conditions and the case was adjourned to the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.