A man from Connemara, aged 48, has been accused of making a serious threat via social media towards Taoiseach Simon Harris and his family; he has been released on bail. Appearing in Galway District Court before Judge Gerard Furlong, Patrick Grealish of Garrai an Choirce, Lettermullen, Co Galway has been charged with the alleged threat issued on the 4th of August of the current year.
The potential punishment for the crime, falling under Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, could be a jail sentence of up to a decade. Detective Sergeant Eamonn O’Neill from the Special Detective Unit, having arrested Mr Grealish on Sunday, charged him at Galway Regional Garda Headquarters. His response to the charges was simply “no thanks”.
The Detective Sergeant argued against bail due to multiple factors, including the severity of the charges, the fact it involves a government official, and crucially, the severity of the alleged crime. It was made clear by Det Sgt O’Neill that the case was being treated with extreme seriousness, and that Mr Grealish was allegedly caught in the act with the device used to post the threat.
However, defence solicitor Michael Cunningham confirmed during cross-examination that Mr Grealish had been forthcoming since his arrest. The defendant, being the primary caregiver for his elderly mother and dealing with his own health complications, is on social welfare and was allowed free legal aid. Mr Grealish assured Judge Furlong that he would adhere completely to any conditions of his bail and refrain from using social media during the short 17-minute proceeding.
Grealish made a commitment to avoid any interaction with the victim, including via internet platforms; surrender his travel documentations and refrain from applying for new ones; remain within his residence; act appropriately at all times; supply the police force with a reachable contact number; adhere to a curfew from 11 in the evening to 7 in the morning, and make his presence known at all relevant court proceedings related to the incident at hand.
Judge Furlong sternly told Grealish that these terms were uncompromising, indicating that any violation could potentially put his freedom at risk.
Judge Furlong enforced a bail payment of €500, in line with the accused’s financial capability and in no way meaning to downplay the gravity of the impending charge.
Grealish was granted bail, with instructions to reappear before the Derrynea District Court in Connemara on the 17th of September.