Suspended sentence for threatening letters

A GLENBRIEN man who admitted to sending threatening letters to his former primary school principal and a neighbour has received a suspsended sentence at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court.

Adam Kinsella (21) of Ballinastraw, Glenbrien, Enniscorthy, had pleaded guilty to sending the letters to St Aidan’s Primary School princial Peter Creedon as well as neighbour James Lambert of Clonmore Upper, Glenbrien in December 2017.

At last week’s sentencing hearing, defence counsel Niall Nolan said that at the time of the offences the defendant was unwell and had been admitted to St John of God Hospital. He said the entire experience had a traumatic impact on Kinsella’s family and he had apologised to everyone involved – his family, the school, Mr Creedon and Mr Lambert.

A probation and welfare report, along with a psychological report, were brought before the court last week, and both reports were favourable.

Mr Nolan said the defendant had engaged very well with the probation and welfare services and also with the preperation of the psychological report. The reports stress that Kinsella is at a low risk of reoffending.

In sentencing, Judge Quinn said the offences must have been a frightening experience for both Mr Creedon and Mr Lambert.

Mitigating factors included Kinsella’s early plea of guilty, no previous convictions, a letter of apology from the defendant’s mother, the fact that the accused is working at present and the fact that the various reports before the court were favourable.

Judge Quinn sentenced the defendant to a total of 18 months in prison, suspended in its entirety. The defendant must be of good behaviour and continue under the supervision of the Probation and Welfare services for a period of two years.

He also ordered the defendant to follow all directions as given by St John of God Hospital.