Man who threatened relation with hammer to do community service

A community service report is to be prepared for a man who threatened a male family with a hammer during a dispute.

Jimi Farrell (24), 18 Rathsallagh Grove, Shankill, appeared in Bray District Court on Thursday, October 4. Evidence in the case had been heard on a previous occasion and the matter was back for the production of a victim impact statement. However, the injured party didn’t wish to provide one, the court heard. The incident occurred at 42 Rathsallagh Park on January 28, 2018.

A letter of apology was handed in to Judge David Kennedy. Farrell’s uncle, David Farrell, gave evidence in support of his nephew. He said that Jimi looks after an uncle, who has epilepsy, and his elderly grandmother.

‘We’d be lost without him,’ said David Farrell, who added that Jimi was the only one who could look after his uncle when he takes fits.

The court heard that both of Farrell’s parents had passed away and his grandfather had died more recently. ‘He regarded my father as his father,’ David Farrell said.

The incident in question occurred at the end of January. ‘He’s been great since,’ said Mr Farrell.

‘No one meant what they said. We don’t want any more trouble in the family.’

Barrister Eibhlin Ní Raghallaigh said that her client’s mother had died in 1999. His grandmother then, effectively, became his mother.

Judge David Kennedy ordered a community service report.

‘ There will be a lengthy number of hours,’ he said. ‘He is lucky to escape a custodial sentence.’

Judge Kennedy also ordered that Farrell pay €750 compensation to the injured party.