A man who aimed a makeshift flame-thrower at gardai and told them they would die like a colleague burnt to death in Tallaght Garda station has been given a three-year suspended sentence. The man later barricaded himself in his house and had to be removed by gardai in riot gear.
Seamus Kennedy (35), of Mulhuddart, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening the life of gardai at his home on September 3rd, 1999. When gardai were called to a disturbance at his home, he lit an aerosol can and shot a long flame at them.
Ms Marie Torrens, defending, said Kennedy was attending alcohol counselling. He wanted to apologise to the gardai involved.
Judge Elizabeth Dunne to hear a reference to Sergeant Callanan in such circumstances and bound Kennedy to the peace for three years.