bizarre rant | 

Sligo conspiracy theorist tells court: ‘You are not a judge and this is not court’

Conspiracy theorist charged with threat to witness launches bizarre court rant

Today at 14:25

A conspiracy theorist who was charged with threatening and intimidating a witness in a court case launched into a bizarre rant where he claimed the authorities “applaud freemasons who are a secret society of luciferians”.

Gerard Stokes (54), from Cahermore Holiday Village in Enniscrone, appeared before Sligo District Court this month on multiple charges related to alleged threats and intimidation of a witness.

When Stokes appeared before Judge Brendan O’Reilly he said: “You are a not a judge and this is not a court.”

He later tried to say the court and gardai “applaud freemasons who are a secret society of luciferians [devil worshippers]. However, he stopped his rant after Judge O’Reilly warned him he was in danger of being held in contempt of court.

The court heard he was charged with threatening a witness, Michael Breen, at Cliff Road, Enniscrone Sligo on September 18, 2022, with the intention of causing the investigation/the course of justice to be obstructed, perverted or interfered with.

He was also accused of threatening, menacing, intimidating and putting fear into Mr Breen at Main Street Enniscrone on January 11, 2023, with the intention of causing the investigation/the course of justice to be obstructed, perverted or interfered with.

Stokes was also accused of harassing Mr Breen on a date unknown between March 1 and March 25, 2021, in Enniscrone contrary to Section 10(1) and (6) of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.

He was also accused of two incidents engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Main Street Enniscrone on June 29, 2020 and July 16 2020, and one incident of the same offence at Pier Road in Enniscrone on July 2, 2020.

When asked if he was pleading guilty or not guilty to the offences, Stokes replied: “I am guilty of no crime.”

Mr Stokes who appeared without legal representation then asked the court that he be granted legal aid and time to get a solicitor.

He was granted legal aid and a plea of not guilty was entered.

Mr Stokes, who has previously represented himself in court, told the court he had asked a friend to try to get one for him but was unsuccessful.

He then said he remembered he also asked his cellmate in Castlerea to contact his solicitor for him to see if he would represent him.

“A man [solicitor] in Cavan was called. He said he would represent me but the next day he said he wouldn’t. It was because he found out who I was.”

He claimed he was being “deliberately stifled” as he can’t access his laptop, which he claimed would prove his innocence, while in Castlerea.

He was remanded on continuing bail until January 9.