A Ballybane man who threatened to shoot an unnamed garda, during an altercation with his wife, has received a three month suspended sentence and was fined €500.
Michael Mongan (29 ) with an address at 313 Castlepark, Ballybane, appeared at Galway District Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to engaging in intimidating behaviour at his residence, namely threatening gardai and his wife, and threatening to shoot an unnamed member of An Garda Siochana, causing a breach of the peace contrary to common law, on April 30, 2009.
Inspector Ernie White told the court that at 1.25am gardai were called to a house where the defendant was involved in an altercation with his wife. Gardai were invited in by the wife, however Mongan told gardai to “f**k off” and then said that he would “shoot” an unnamed gardai in Galway. Mongan then turned on this wife and issued a series of threats. Inspector White said that the gardai deemed it unsafe to leave the defendant at the house and arrested him.
The court heard that Mongan has 18 previous convictions which include theft, public order offences, and road traffic offences.
Defence solicitor Sarah O’Dowd said that her client, who is married with four children, was intoxicated at the time and had just received bad news that his mother had been diagnosed with cancer. She said that Mongan who suffers from anxiety and diffficulties with his nerves had been very upset. She added that Mongan is still residing with his wife and that drinking is not an on-going issue. The court also heard that Mongan believes he may have mixed his drink with medication on the night.
“It was a breach of the peace, the gardai arrived as a result of a call from his wife and serious threats were made. His attitude towards the gardai was totally unacceptable,” said Judge Mary Fahy before imposing the fine and the three month sentence suspended for eight months on condition that he enter into his own bond of €300 to be of good behaviour.
