VIRAL CLIP | 

Man who threatened to blow up garda station says ‘I’m not a terrorist, I was just drunk’

Josef says he’s ‘literally Irish’ himself after his threat to blow up Killarney Garda Station

Today at 17:54

A man who filmed himself threatening to blow up Killarney Garda station in a viral social media video insists he has no terrorist inclinations — and was simply really drunk when he recorded it.

Wheelchair-bound Josef Urbanszky, who has lived in Killarney since he was eight years old, says he has been threatened and has had his family’s address shared online in the wake of the video blowing up on social media.

The 28-year-old now faces a number of charges arising from his behaviour on the night the video was recorded.

However, he has insisted there was nothing more behind what occurred than a bad cocktail of prescribed medication and tequila shots.

“I’m not [a terrorist],” said Josef, who suffered a severe spinal cord injury in a car accident in 2014.

“I was after my medication and drinks. My medication is for seven or eight different things and I was out a long time drinking.

“It was tequila shots and then something happened in there.

“And because of the way I had been treated, I was talking sh*te … that’s it.”

Referring to the online commentary tarring him as a terrorist, Josef said: “That’s a joke.

“I’m literally Irish myself. I’ve lived here since I was eight or nine. I went to the Mon [primary school] and the Sem [secondary school]. I played soccer here.

“Everyone knows me here.”

In 2014, locals in Killarney rallied to Josef’s aid after he suffered devastating injuries in a car crash in Co Kerry.

“You think I don’t have terrorist friends round here?”

Speaking on Thursday, Josef said he was aware the video he recorded had been seized on by a growing anti-immigrant movement.

“I jumped in with this at the most stupid time … not a good subject and really bad timing.”

Josef continued that he is most concerned by the fact his family’s address is being shared online.

“I have people threatening me.

“But my address is being shared and my family live here — that’s not right. It’s gotten out of hand totally. After I woke up, it had already gone viral. The whole thing is crazy.

He faces two charges of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at locations at New Road and College Square Killarney on April 28.

He further faces four counts of assault on members of the gardai at Killarney Garda station on the same date. And he faces a single count of threatening to bomb Killarney Garda Station via social media on the same date.

Josef is represented in the case by Killarney based solicitor Padraig O’Connell.

On Mr O’Connell’s application, he was granted bail on four conditions including that he stay off social media and not go to Killarney Garda Station unless it an emergency. He is also to keep a curfew from 9pm to 7am and be of sober habits.

He will appear again before Killarney District Court later this month.