Laois man threatened to 'cut up' his mother 

A YOUNG man who stopped taking his medication and then threatened his mother that he would “cut her up and sell her for parts” appeared at last week’s sitting of the family law court in Portlaoise for breaching a safety order on four separate occasions.

The man pleaded guilty to the offences, which took place at his home in Co Laois last September.

The court was told that the man’s mother reported to gardaí that she and her husband had been verbally abused on a number of occasions and on one occasion her son had threated to cut her up and sell her for parts.

Defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said that the man has ADHD and suffers from depression. “For some reason, he decided to stop taking his medication,” she said.

However, she said that following the incidents, he presented himself to the psychiatric unit at the local hospital, is now back on his medication, at home again and that “things are much better now. I think that he has learned his lesson”.

The solicitor said that her client had been on medication for his conditions since the age of 15 and it was the first time that he stopped taking it.

Judge John Brennan said: “But for the intervention of the gardaí, this young man could have been facing more serious charges and could have ended up in the circuit court.

“He never behaved like this before. But when he stopped taking his medication, he spiraled down to this scenario. I believe this was a one-off situation. He should be very grateful that his mom and da have stood by him. I think once he was charged, it softened his cough.” The judge commended the man’s mother for her courage in bringing the case to court and said but for her and her husband’s actions, their son could have been facing a custodial sentence.

Judge Brennan remanded the man on continuing bail until 25 May for a probation report. 

In family law cases, the identities of those involved cannot be reported.