Bail denied after man’s alleged threat to ‘take her head off’ - Kilkenny Court

A man who left phone messages of a “grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character” allegedly aimed at two social workers has been denied bail.

John Dillon, 4 Montgomery Street, Carlow, appeared before Kilkenny District Court where gardaí objected to his bail application.

Garda Thomas Hennessy said in evidence that on September 18 last, just after 6pm, a message was left on the phone of a Tusla social worker, based in Carlow.

A male voice said he had ‘a bone to pick’ with the woman.
The lengthy message included the threats “I’ll do prison for you,” “you better be there or I know where you will be,” and “I’ll take her f***ing head off.”

The following day the message was reported to gardaí. The social worker said she recognised the voice as that of Mr Dillon and the number he rang from was his partner’s phone, which the social worker also knew as she had dealings with the family.

The social worker took the threats very seriously, the garda told the court, because she knew the man.
She told gardaí she felt unsafe in her workplace because Mr Dillon had been abusive to her and her colleagues there previously.

The social worker shared the message with one of her colleagues who she said the threats were also against.
She felt fearful for herself and her colleagues’ safety and feared Mr Dillon might turn up at her workplace or home, Garda Hennessy said.

Garda Hennessy said Mr Dillon put the two Tusla workers in fear. Neither of the women had attended court for the hearing because “they are genuinely in fear of him.”

The garda gave evidence that when he approached Mr Dillon to arrest him the man first gave a false name.
He then became aggressive and verbally abusive to gardaí.

Mr Dillon also gave gardaí an address in Co Laois that they know he does not live in. It is the home of Mr Dillon’s partner’s family who have told gardaí he is not welcome there and has not been there ‘in a number of years’.

Garda objections to bail included the seriousness of the offence and several other factors.

Solicitor Alex Rafter, for Mr Dillon, said his client was prepared to agree to conditions including daily signing on at a garda station and a curfew, if granted bail.

He said his client was entitled to the presumption of innocence and that it could be some time before directions from the DPP were made in the case.

Judge Geraldine Carthy said there were a number of considerations in making her ruling, including the accused’s right to the presumption of innocence. This had to be balanced with the need to protect the public and judicial process.

Having considered the totality of the evidence put before her, Judge Carthy denied bail and Mr Dillon was remanded in custody.