Portlaoise District Court: Man told gardaí he would ‘get their wives and children’
Portlaoise Courthouse
A MAN who threatened gardaí that he would ‘get their wives and children’ was remanded in custody when he came before last week’s sitting of Portlaoise District Court.
Christopher Cooney, Fort House, Dublin Road, Kilbeggan, Co Offaly was charged with theft of an e-scooter valued at €200 from Tullamore Railway Station on 4 November, theft of a bottle of wine valued at €13.99 from the Spa Store on Patrick Street, Tullamore as well as engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, obstruction and criminal damage on 14 May at Cloncollig, Tullamore.
He pleaded guilty to all the charges.
The court was told that at 6.50pm on 14 May, gardaí were called to a disturbance in the Cloncollig housing estate. They identified Mr Cooney as one who was involved and knew that a number of bench warrants had been issued for his arrest.
When he was informed that he was being arrested, he became highly aggressive and threatened gardaí. He refused to be placed in the patrol car and began kicking out. He then threatened gardaí and their family members.
Asked by Judge Cody what threats had been made, the arresting garda said: “He said that he was going to get our wives and children”.
The garda said that Mr Cooney had been struggling with them so much that they had to call for assistance to get him to Tullamore Garda Station. He said slight damage had been done to the squad car by the defendant.
Judge Cody remanded Mr Cooney in custody to appear at Tullamore District Court at a later date.
