Dungloe man told his cousin he would ‘slice him’ - court hears

A Dungloe man who told his cousin in a phone message that he would “slice him” and hoped that his cousin’s mother would “rot in hell”, had his case adjourned for pre-sentence reports at Dungloe District Court.

In a message left on his cousin Frank Earley’s phone in Kinlough, John Boyle, 37, of Ard Crone, Dungloe, also called Mr Early a ginger p---k.

The phone message, which was read out in court by Garda Inspector Seamus McGonigle added: “I swear to God I know where you live and I don’t care if your mammy is sick, I could not give a f--k.

“I hope she rots in hell man, the same place you are going to, because I am going to slice you right up man.”
The defendant pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening to kill or cause serious harm at 22 Dartry View, Kinlough on June 5 last year.

Inspector McGonigle said gardaí investigated a complaint from Mr Earley.
In a subsequent interview with gardaí the defendant admitted that it was his voice on the phone.
He also admitted that its contents were accurate but denied that he had intended to act on the threats made in the phonecall.

The defendant said he was drunk, and they were “empty threats”.
He also apologised for the remarks he made about Mr Earley’s mother and said they were “disgusting”.

Defence solicitor Frank Dorrian said the comments were overblown and excessive against a background of a dispute where all parties were drunk, and words and blows were exchanged which gave rise to the message on the phone.
The defendant did not remember leaving the message on his cousin’s phone.

Judge Eiteáin Cunningham

He was drunk and it “was alcohol that was talking,” Mr Dorrian said.
Mr Dorrian said this phone message actually did more damage to his client rather than the recipient and the defendant had no ill will towards his cousin.

He said his client was brought up in harrowing circumstances as he and his four brothers were raised by their mother on her own, who did her very best.
The defendant left school early and took to alcohol and drugs.
He had been a chronic alcoholic but had got back on his feet and had gone to work in Sweden.
His rehabilitation was due to AA, and he continues to attend meetings.

The defendant had no alcohol since July, 2021 and this incident was a relapse when he got into an argument with his cousins.
He is now working in a local factory, is still attending AA and is in a stable relationship.

Both he and his partner are fully employed and are planning to get a place of their own, the court was told.
The defendant’s apology was genuine, and he had real remorse, Mr Dorrian said.
The court heard the defendant had 34 previous convictions, including two for threatening to kill, public order offences, common assault, criminal damage and misuse of drugs.
His last conviction was in 2016.

Judge Eiteáin Cunningham said she would need a probation report in view of the previous convictions and the nature of the charge before the court. She also asked for a victim impact statement.
The case was adjourned to May 9.