‘I’m going to get you’ shouted man with hatchet - Kilkenny court told 'petty dispute crossed line'
A man with anger issues who waved a hatchet while shouting at another man, “I’m going to get you”, has appeared before Kilkenny District Court.
Robert Culleton, 3 Patrick’s Close, Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to two charges – producing an article capable of causing injury in the course of a dispute and threatening to kill or cause serious harm. Both charges occurred at Mr Culleton’s home address at about 8.30am on November 4, 2025.
Garda David Bourke gave evidence that a complaint was made to gardaí on November 6 from a man who said he was out walking his dog when he walked past Mr Culleton’s house.
He said he heard someone shouting behind him, turned and saw Mr Culleton was standing in the garden with a hatchet. The defendant shouted at him: “Hey, hey, this is for you. I’m going to get you.”
The other man was afraid and left the area.
On December 16, 2025, the garda obtained a search warrant and searched Mr Culleton’s home. A hatchet was found. Mr Culleton was arrested and taken to Kilkenny Garda Station.
The garda said both men did know each other, and there was a history between them.
Mr Culleton had nine previous convictions.
Solicitor Ed Hughes said his client’s two most recent convictions related to the same injured party. He said it appeared a “petty dispute” had “on occasion crossed the line”, and his client accepted that.
Mr Hughes said the injured party was not concerned enough to report the matter until two days later.
Mr Culleton is 48 and now lives with his mother, for whom he is a carer.
The defendant accepted he had a hatchet outside his house. This was because he was hammering bamboo into the ground to stabilise plants. Mr Culleton said the injured party had been staring at him for a time. He accepted he shouldn’t have said what he did.
Mr Hughes said his client accepts this other man can push his switch, and that he has anger issues. He was prepared to return to his doctor for advice and medication, and attend anger management.
Judge Patricia Cronin convicted Mr Culleton.
On the threat to kill charge, she imposed a sentence of ten months’ imprisonment, with the final six months of that suspended for two years on condition he have no contact, directly or indirectly, with the injured party.
“If you meet on the street you should cross the road. You can not have contact with this individual,” the judge warned Mr Culleton.
The second charge was taken into consideration and a destruction order was issued for the hatchet.