Prison for man who threatened to burn Garda’s house

A man threatened to burn a Garda’s house down and also threatened his family while Gardaí and ambulance personnel were dealing with an accident.

Kevin Barry (39), a native of Mervue, who now resides at the Fairgreen Hostel, pleaded guilty before Galway District Court to three charges of breaching the peace by engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour on three separate occasions around the city in recent weeks.

The offences occurred at Siobhan McKenna Road, Newcastle, on December 19 last; on January 30 last at Ballybane Shopping Centre; and on February 17 last at Eglinton Street.

Barry was highly intoxicated on all three occasions.

Sergeant Finbarr Philpott told the court the second offence occurred while Gardai and an ambulance crew were attending to a man who had fallen and injured his head.

Barry became involved and was highly abusive and threatening.  He threatened Garda Ray Quinn that he would burn his house down and would harm his family. He had also been highly abusive to staff at Ballybane Shopping Centre while intoxicated.

Defence solicitor, Valerie Corcoran said Barry didn’t even know who Garda Quinn was or where he lived and he didn’t remember making the threats. She said Barry’s own family home had been burnt down some years ago.    She said he didn’t remember making the threat to Garda Quinn, and if he had, he was very sorry.

Sgt Philpott said Barry had 76 previous convictions, the most recent being on February 12 last when he was given a suspended prison sentence for breaching the peace and being drunk in public.  The sentence had been suspended at the time on condition he be of good behaviour.

Judge Mary Fahy said the suspended sentence was imposed only a few weeks ago and Barry had reoffended while on bail for some of the offences before the court.

“I do not see why Gardaí and ambulance personnel have to be subjected to abuse by this man.  He comes into court when he feels like it,” the judge said.

Defence solicitor, Valerie Corcoran said her client had pleaded guilty to all of the charges.

Judge Fahy pointed out that Barry could not contest the charges because he couldn’t even remember abusing Garda Quinn or threatening to burn his house down. She sentenced Barry to a total of four months in prison.