STANDING TRIAL | 

Longford man armed with chainsaw accused of threatening to kill woman and her family

Kieran McNally (34), of Greagh, Drumlish, Co Longford appeared at a sitting of Longford District Court

Yesterday at 15:27

A man is to stand trial for allegedly threatening to kill a woman and her entire family shortly before arriving at a house in north Longford while armed with a chainsaw.

Kieran McNally (34), of Greagh, Drumlish, Co Longford appeared at a sitting of Longford District Court in connection to an alleged incident at Corneddan, Ballinalee, Co Longford on March 26 this year.

The north Longford man had previously appeared at the same court in October where jurisdiction in relation to the case was refused.

That came after it was alleged Mr McNally became involved in a verbal spat with the alleged victim after she arrived at his home in Drumlish to return a television.

The court heard following that exchange the victim and her partner left and made their way to an address at Cornedden, Ballinalee, Co Longford.

Sgt Enda Daly, in outlining the prosecution’s case, said it was at this juncture Mr McNally contacted both the alleged victim and her partner during which a number of menacing threats were made to the woman.

“It was alleged during these phone calls he is alleged to have threatened to kill the injured party and all her family,” he said.

Soon after, Mr McNally allegedly arrived at the aforementioned address “armed with a chainsaw”.

Sgt Daly said it would be the State’s case Mr McNally then proceeded to “wave” the chainsaw in the air outside the property moments before taking it to a nearby timber fence.

Mr McNally was consequently charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the woman as well as causing criminal damage to the fence.

He was also charged with damaging the custody area of a garda van on the following day contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act.

When the case returned before Judge Bernadette Owens, Garda Conor Foley gave evidence of having served a book of evidence on Mr McNally.

Judge Owens gave the accused the alibi warning, telling him he had 14 days to inform the State Solicitor’s office should he intend to rely on an alibi during the course of his trial.

Mr McNally, who remained silent throughout the hearing, was remanded on continuing bail to appear back before Longford Circuit Criminal Court on January 9, 2024.