‘terrified’ | 

Pet shop manager threatened to ‘kill’ stepdaughter in Dublin property

row, court hears

Brian Dixon, 65, pleaded guilty to sending a message by telephone to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another person on December 19, 2021

Today at 12:51

A PET shop manager made terrifying phone calls threatening to “kill” his stepdaughter during a property dispute in Dublin, a court heard.

Brian Dixon, 65, pleaded guilty to sending a message by telephone to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another person on December 19, 2021.

Dublin District Court heard he telephoned Victoria Haskins, the daughter of his deceased former partner, at her home address in St Conleth’s Park, in Walkinstown.

Judge Susan Fay heard Dixon, of Parnell Street, Dublin, made two frightening calls.

He told her he was coming to Walkinstown and that “I am going to come and pull you out and kill you”.

Ms Haskins immediately recognised the number, and there was a second call from him saying, “I’m going to come over and pull you out of the house and kill you”.

The woman was in fear and believed Dixon could carry out the threat. He had eight prior convictions.

Ms Haskins gave a victim impact statement in court, telling Judge Fay, “I’m constantly living in fear of what this man is capable of.”

Dixon had been in a relationship with the complainant’s mother for several years.

“When he was in the house, I had to lock myself in my bedroom in constant fear: I’m terrified of what this man is capable of,” she said.

The prosecution accepted he was drunk when he made the phone calls, abided by bail conditions and cooperated with the whole court process.

Defence solicitor Donal Quigley asked for leniency, telling the judge that “emotions got the better of him”.

He submitted that there had been an issue about the family home, and Dixon should have handled it better.

Mr Quigley told the court his client had worked all his life, was apologetic, and intended to stay away in the future.

He said it had affected his client, whose family got involved, but it was hoped they would move on and there would be some form of reconciliation.

Judge Fay described it as “very serious” and adjourned the case for Probation Service assessment of his suitability for 150 hours of community service instead of a three-month jail sentence.

Dixon was remanded on bail to appear again in February.