Court hears man accused of threatening to kill Garda in Portlaoise gave details of the Garda's home address

A man appeared in court accused of threatening to kill a garda who was responding to an incident. 

The man (36), who has a Dublin address, was accused of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the Garda at a location in Portlaoise on January 1, 2026. He was also accused of obstruction at Abbeyleix Garda Station on the same date. 

Garda Sergeant Kevin O’Sullivan said the defendant made no reply when charged in relation to the matter. He said the case could be heard in the district court subject to the judge consenting. 

He said Gardai had been called to an incident in Portlaoise on the morning of January 1, 2026. The defendant was found in the vicinity “in an intoxicated state”, he said. 

Sgt O’Sullivan said the accused began referencing a Garda’s home town. He said the man was “extremely aggressive" and said he knew the Garda.

He said the man claimed to be associated with an “organised crime group” and “made repeated threats to kill the Garda” and made specific reference to neighbouring properties near the Garda’s home. 

Sgt O’Sullivan said it was alleged the man threatened that “if he was in prison he would have an associate kill him on his behalf”.  The man provided “specific and detailed directions to the Garda’s home address”, said Sgt O’Sullivan. He described the alleged threats as being “specific and repeated”. 

Judge Susan Fay said she wasn’t willing to accept jurisdiction in the case. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick asked Sgt O’Sullivan about the threats. 

He said the injured party was a Garda member and the man gave specific directions to the Garda member’s home address. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client was intoxicated on the night and was already punished in relation to other matters. She said he enjoyed the presumption of innocence. 

Sgt O’Sullivan said “the accused allegedly approached the Garda in advance of being arrested for any offence”. 

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Ms Fitzpatrick said the DPP had already considered the matter suitable for hearing in the district court and she urged Judge Fay to accept jurisdiction. 

“He has been punished already for other matters arising from the same incident,” she said. 

Judge Fay again said she wasn’t willing to accept jurisdiction in relation to threats to kill and she said a book of evidence would be needed. She granted legal aid and remanded the accused in custody to appear by video link at Portlaoise District Court on April 20.