‘Threat to Kill’ | 

‘I hope you’ve found religion… you’re a dead man,’ accused is alleged to have told garda in court building

Tim Flaherty (43) is accused of approaching the garda aggressively in the building’s foyer and making the threats, which he had a “real and honest belief” would be followed through.

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Today at 07:15

A man allegedly threatened a garda in Dublin’s Criminal Courts of Justice, telling him: “I hope you’ve found religion… you’re a dead man.”

Tim Flaherty (43) is accused of approaching the garda aggressively in the building’s foyer and making the threats, which he had a “real and honest belief” would be followed through.

Judge Treasa Kelly said the allegations were serious and refused bail, remanding the accused in custody.

Mr Flaherty, of Kiltipper Avenue, Tallaght, is charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Detective Garda Peter Lyons.

The court heard Det Gda Lyons was in the foyer of the CCJ on Parkgate Street on January 16 to attend a hearing and the accused was also there.

It was alleged Mr Flaherty approached him and said: “I hope you’ve found religion, Peter. You’re a dead man.”

Later, Det Gda Lyons had left court to find a solicitor and was walking on the ground floor when Mr Flaherty again approached him, the court heard.

It was alleged he shouted aggressively at Det Gda Lyons and “got into his personal space”.

The garda told him to stop this and Mr Flaherty allegedly said: “Don’t you f**king tell me what to do, you’re dead.”

Det Gda Lyons had been aware the accused had a long-standing psychiatric condition and he was “capable of extreme and unpredictable behaviour”, the prosecuting garda said.

Det Gda Lyons had a “real and honest belief he would follow through on the threats,” he said. They were made in the “main foyer of the CCJ”, the incidents were captured on CCTV and there were a number of witnesses, the garda said.

In interview, when the first threat allegation was put to the accused, he did not attempt to refute it and replied: “It came from God,” the garda said.

Applying for bail, defence solicitor Brian Keenan said Mr Flaherty had a long history of engaging with psychiatric services. The prosecuting garda agreed it was fair to say there were concerns for Mr Flaherty’s mental health.

If granted bail, he would abide by conditions, including an undertaking not to have any contact with the alleged victim, Mr Keenan said.

The accused was “somebody who is very ill and needs appropriate treatment” and had been let down by the State, he said.

Remanding him to a prison was “not necessarily going to solve the issue,” Mr Keenan said.