12-month sentence for Kildare man who threatened to kill his own mother

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

A 12-month sentence was imposed on a County Kildare man who threatened to kill his own mother.

The verdict was heard at Naas District Court on Thursday, September 19 last during an in-camera (in private) court session.

The man was charged with breaching a protection order taken out against him by his mother, possession of an offensive weapon and a threat to kill offence.

He pleaded guilty to committing all three offences.

The injured party (the man's mother) was present in the court on the date in question, as well as her own mother (and the man's grandmother).

Gardaí told Judge Desmond Zaidan that the man arrived at his mother's house in the afternoon and had threatened to kill her.

He told his mother: "I don't care about your order, I'll strangle you and enjoy doing it."

This prompted the mother to quickly enter into her home and lock the doors, and the son proceeded to knock on the front door.

CCTV at the mother's residence showed him tapping on one of the windows with a knife.

The mother rang the gardaí and informed them of the incident, it was heard.

A garda who was sworn in also told Judge Zaidan that the man had white powder 'caked' onto his nostrils.

The court heard that the man has one previous conviction, which relates to a drug-driving offence.

The man's defending solicitor, David Powderly, told the judge that his client suffers from both mental health and drug addiction issues.

He added that his client was under the influence of intoxicants on the date of the incident, and has been in custody since July.

The mother then took to the stand, and Judge Zaidan asked her how her son's actions had affected her.

She replied: "It is very hard, he needs help with his drug addiction... his Dad left him at a young age, and things have happened to him which were out of his control."

The mother further explained that when her son was in his teenage years, he had been both physically and sexually abused by his friends at the time, and he had never sought help to combat his trauma.

"All of them are in jail now," she added.

"He also suffered a break-up with his girlfriend and he just snapped," the mother further said: "He needs drug counselling and he needs mental health counselling."

"It goes to show you the evils of illicit drugs," Judge Zaidan said.

The man was represented by solicitor David Powderly. File photograph.

When Mr Powderly asked the woman if she and her son have any contact, she replied: "By phone, yes."

"Has he apologised to you?" Mr Powderly responded.

"Yes," she said.

"You said that you would help him upon his release [from custody]?" Mr Powderly asked.

"Yes," the mother replied.

Mr Powderly then discussed more of his client's personal history with the judge, including the sexual abuse his client had suffered in the past.

He said that the man is now attending in-house treatment to address his issues, and had previously experienced a period of homelessness.

"He is anxious to make amends with his mother," Mr Powderly added.

Mr Powderly also said that he is now sober, and that he 'makes no excuse for doing the things he did to his mother, who comes across as a very nice and gentle lady.'

He added that since his client has been in custody since July, he would be seeking for any custodial sentence imposed by the judge to be backdated to when his client first entered into custody.

While considering the case, Judge Zaidan remarked: "He is one of the thousands of people who are victims of the illicit drugs trade."

However, he pointed out the 'serious' nature of the incident, and added that he has 'a duty to people of Ireland and the victim."

For the death threat offence, the judge imposed a 12-month custodial sentence on the man, which was backdated to when he first went into custody.

He also imposed a six-month sentence on the man in relation to the knife possession charge, which will run concurrently with the first sentence.

Judge Zaidan said that he took into account the breach of the order as part of his verdict, and also set appeal at €500 in cash.

If you have been affected by this article, you can find resources to help you by contacting Women's Aid at 1800 341 900 or emailing helpline@womensaid.ie, or Men's Aid by ringing 01 554 3811 or emailing hello@mensaid.ie.

Additionally, you can find resources to help you by emailing Samaritans Ireland at jo@samaritans.ie, or by ringing 116 123.

You can also find additional resources at the Rape Crisis Centre at http://drcc.ie.

For resources relating to young people who are concerned about sexual violence, please visit https://www.childline.ie/.