Former Laois student threatened to burn down teacher’s house

AN incident where a former student threated to burn down the house of a teacher was heard at Portlaoise District Court last week.

Garda sgt JJ Kirby told Portlaoise District Court that on 21 December 2024 at 10.45pm at the Vibe Bar on Main Street, Portlaoise while the injured party, Thomas Whelehan, a schoolteacher, who was also working as a doorman, refused entry to Brian Ryan (25), Morette, Emo because of his previous behaviour on the premises.

An altercation ensued between the two men, with Mr Ryan telling the injured party that he knew where he lived and would burn his house down.

Sgt Kirby said that Mr Ryan made a phone call and was overheard to say about the injured party ‘yeah, yeah, that’s him from Vicarstown.’ He said that the Mr Whelehan had known Mr Ryan because he had taught him in school.

Sgt Kirby said the accused had two previous convictions.

Mr Ryan pleaded guilty to section 3 of the Criminal Damage Act 1991 ‒ threatening to damage property.

Defending solicitor Philip Meagher said that his client “would like to say in open court that he is unreservedly apologetic for his actions on the night and is utterly ashamed of himself. He appreciates fully the upset, worry and concern and for the threat he presented on the night.” Mr Meagher said his client “acknowledges that he was extremely drunk, but that is no excuse for what he said. It was coming up to Christmas and he had been out with a number of his friends. He had far too much to drink and foolishly took umbrage at Mr Whelehan, who was just doing his job. It was a very nasty threat that he made. He completely over-reacted. Mr Ryan had known Mr Whelehan. He would have been a teacher in a school where Mr Whelehan works.

“In recognition of his foolishness and his behaviour, noting that obviously drink doesn’t suit him, he underwent a course of counselling and is now on a journey, as it were, and is engaging with the services and with the local leader of an alcohol anonymous group.” He said that his client knows “Mr Whelehan doesn’t want any form of compensation and doesn’t think a charitable donation is appropriate, but Mr Ryan had gathered a sum of €1,000 and has it with him in court, which is available for whatever purpose the court may wish to put it to.” Mr Meagher said his client was hoping to travel to Australia to work “but acknowledges an offence of this nature would leave an application to travel there in jeopardy. He is completely alcohol abstinent now. He assures me he will not darken a door of a courthouse again in these circumstances. He has placed his whole future in jeopardy because of this very, very stupid, reckless and mean act. He acknowledges that it was a very serious threat.” Judge Fay said she wanted to monitor the defendant’s progress on how he’s tackling his alcohol problem. She said she was referring him to the Restorative Justice Programme and invited Mr Whelehan, who she said had no obligation to participate, to consider engaging in that process.

She also instructed the defendant to engage with the probation service to determine his suitability to take part in community service.

She said: “I want this man (Mr Ryan) to understand the impact that this had on the victim. He (Mr Whelehan) was worried about a knock on his door and about his wife and kids in his house at home.” Sgt Kirby said he would like Mr Ryan to give a sworn undertaking not to have or to make any contact by any means, directly or indirectly, by social media or by third parties with the injured party and to not make any contact with his place of work in the school.

Mr Whelehan said both parties live ten minutes from each other.

He said: “I’ve had issues with Brian, but none for the past ten years. He caused one issue this night and threatened my whole family. There was a lot of fear in my house. Up to the past nine years, he would have said hello and passed himself with no issues, but on this night, he was very aggressive and didn’t seem to have as much alcohol taken, as he said he had. It escalated very fast for a person who was sober, which made it very dangerous or seemed dangerous at the time. I’d like to thank the gardaí who made themselves available to check on my family at the time because I was still working.” Judge Fay ruled that Mr Ryan was not to come within one kilometre of Mr Whelehan’s home address; and that he makes no contact directly or indirectly by social media or by any other means.

Judge Fay said: “People can put stuff up on social media that can be very subtle.” Mr Meagher said that his client uses Facebook and other social media sites and would give an undertaking not to post anything relating to Mr Whelehan.