Message showing gun being loaded sent to man in Laois

A man admitted sending threatening messages showing him loading a shotgun to another man. 

Jason Delaney (40) of Derrynafeera, Coolrain, Mountrath, pleaded guilty to possession of a 12 gauge under and over double barrel shotgun at The Rock, Mountrath on December 2, 2024 and to sending a threatening or grossly offensive communication on the same date. 

Garda Olimpia Sosinska said the defendant “sent a threatening message of himself loading firearms” to another man. She said the defendant replied “no” when charged. She said he had two previous convictions, one for assault in 2006 and one for failing to provide information under the road traffic act. 

Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said while it appeared a very serious offence, “the gun was decommissioned in 2010” meaning it was no longer a viable weapon.  Garda Sosinska agreed that the gun was decommissioned. 

Mr Fitzgerald said his client felt that he was under significant threat from the injured party in the case. He said the man had worked in clean rooms in the pharma industry but was now on disability. 

“There were certain threats made to my client,” said Mr Fitzgerald. He told the court that the man had drink taken when the offending occurred. “He was genuinely scared in relation to this individual,” he said. 

“He was never going to follow through. He was foolish in the extreme,” he told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. He asked the judge to take the early guilty plea into account. 

Judge Susan Fay said “I want the victim to be canvassed for a victim impact statement.” She requested a probation report and a community service suitability assessment and adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on April 13.