Threats to Kill | 

Woman who went with pal armed with samurai sword to threaten her ‘abusive ex’ jailed

Elvira Oreidein (30) had confided in her friend that she had been in an abusive relationship when they went to her ex’s apartment block, a court heard.

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A WOMAN who went with a friend who was armed with a samurai sword to “pay a visit” to her ex-partner but ended up threatening a totally innocent man in a “mad escapade.”

Elvira Oreidein (30) had confided in her friend that she had been in an abusive relationship when they went to her ex’s apartment block, a court heard.

The victim who lived in the same building answered the door and was threatened with the sword before the pair barged in looking for Oreidein’s former boyfriend.

Oreidein, from Newtown Hall, Hazelbrook Square, Whitehall Road, Dublin 14 was sentenced to five months in jail for aggravated burglary, producing a weapon in the course of a dispute and threatening to kill or cause serious harm to a man.

Handing down the sentence at Dublin District Court, Judge Monika Leech said Oreidein had been part of a “joint enterprise.”

Garda Sergeant Paul Daly said Oredein and her friend went to the apartment building where the victim lived in Fairview, Dublin on October 23, 2021. Oredein was looking for her ex-partner but he was not there as he was away on holidays at the time.

A resident who answered the door to the building tried to close it but Oredein’s friend produced a samurai sword and threatened to cut him.

Threats to kill were made and the pair entered the building and banged on a door before leaving, the court heard.

The accused had no previous convictions. Her friend has also been before the courts.

Defence solicitor Peter Connolly said Oreidein had been drinking when she “confided in” her male friend that she had been in an abusive relationship with her ex-partner. They then went to “pay him a visit.”

“It was a serious incident my client very much regrets,” Mr Connolly said. “She got caught up in a mad escapade.” Oredein was in a “tough place” and suffering from trauma at the time but realised this was not an excuse.

Judge Leech said a victim impact statement submitted to the court was “very stark.” It was “harrowing” for an innocent man to be threatened that he would be cut open when he was at home doing “no harm to anyone.”

The words that were used “still haunt him,” she said, referring to the statement. He continued to struggle with sleeplessness and had triple locks put on his living quarters in the aftermath of the incident.

It had affected his sense of security and left an “indelible mark on his life.” Oreidein’s decision was an impulsive, poorly-thought out act and there was no explanation why she continued to participate when they got there, Judge Leech said.

“She had an opportunity to resile and she did not,” the judge said, and Oreidein “must take responsibility for what she has done.”

Mr Connolly said the accused had €2,000 in court to offer the victim if he chose to accept it.

Judge Leech said it was “very grievous offending” and the use of the samurai sword was an aggravating factor that took it into the “next category” that merited a custodial sentence.

She sentenced Oreidein to nine months in prison with the final four months suspended for two years on condition she reports to the Probation Service. The accused was later released on bail pending an appeal against her sentence.