Tallaght man who breached safety order gets eight-month suspended sentence

By Brendan Grehan

A SON who breached a safety order by threatening to kill his mother received an eight-month suspended sentence in Tallaght Court.

John Connolly appeared before Judge Patricia McNamara in custody.

Connolly, aged 30, with an address at Cois Na Habhann, Tallaght, was charged with contravening a safety order by threatening to kill his mother and producing a knife at an address at Drumcairn Green in Tallaght on February 3, 2017.

Connolly’s counsel, George Burns Bl, told Judge McNamara that his client was pleading guilty.

Sergeant Eithne Madden said Connolly had five previous convictions.

On March 2, 2016, he had received a six-month suspended sentence for criminal damage.

On July 2, 2010, he had been fined €400 for non-payment of a taxi-fare.

Mr Burns said his client suffers from issues with alcohol and this has led him into situations where he had experienced bouts of homelessness and the only place he could stay was with his mother. Mr Burns said that when Connolly is under the influence of alcohol, “he’s not himself” and is a very pleasant man when sober.

Judge McNamara sentenced Connolly to eight months jail, suspended for 12 months, and on condition that he stay away from Drumcairn housing estate and that he refrain from drinking alcohol.