Letterkenny man admits making threat to kill woman and producing bill hook

A Letterkenny man has appeared in court charged with threatening to kill a woman and damage her home.

Brandon McGinley pleaded guilty when arraigned on a number of charges before Letterkenny Circuit Court. 

The 25-year-old from Glenard Park, Long Lane in Letterkenny, spoke only to plead guilty.

The charges include making threats to kill, assault, producing an offensive weapon and also making threats to damage a property.

McGinley was charged that on February 23, 2024 at Glenard Park, Long Lane, Letterkenny, he did while committing to wit, assault and threaten to kill Gemma Penny in the course of a dispute produce in a manner likely unlawfully to intimidate another person an article capable of inflicting serious injury, to wit, a bill hook.

The charge is Contrary to section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.

On the same date and location, he was also charged that he did without lawful excuse, make a threat to Gemma Penny, intending her to believe it would be carried out, to kill or cause her serious harm.

This charge is Contrary to Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.

At an unknown location on April 30, 2024, he was charged with making a threat to Gemma Penny intending her to believe it would be carried out, to kill or cause her serious harm.

This charge is Contrary to Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.

On the same date at an unknown location, McGinley was charged that he did make a threat to Gemma Penny intending that she would fear it would be carried out – to damage property at an address in County Tyrone belonging to Gemma Penny and her family.

This charge is Contrary to section 3 Criminal Damage Act, 1991.

And on a date unknown between October 1st, 2023 and October 30, 2023 at Glenard Park, Long Lane, Letterkenny, he did while appearing to be about to commit an offence, to wit, assault causing harm to Gemma Penny in the course of a dispute produce in a manner likely unlawfully to intimidate another person an article capable of inflicting serious injury, to wit, a knife.

This charge is Contrary to section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.

Barrister for the accused, Mr Simon Gillespie BL, instructed by solicitor Rory O'Brien, requested a Probation Report on behalf of his client.

The accused was remanded in custody and the case adjourned for sentencing to the next sessions of the circuit court