Man who sent threatening letters apologises to victims

A GLENBRIEN man who admitted sending letters threatening to kill a school’s principal, its staff and pupils, along with a neighbour has apologised in court for his actions.

Adam Kinsella (21), of Ballinastraw, Glenbrien, Enniscorthy, was before Judge Cormac Quinn at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court.

Kinsella had pleaded guilty at a previous court to a threat to kill or to cause serious harm to Peter Creedon, his staff and pupils. He had also pleaded guilty to another threat to kill James Lambert and family on December 29, 2017, at Clonmore Upper, Glenbrien, Enniscorthy.

In a letter read out in court, Kinsella said: ‘I am not a violent person. I would like to apologise to both parties and the gardai, and my family.’

Defence Counsel Niall Nolan said at the time the defendant was unwell and was admitted to St John of God’s Hospital. He said the whole experience had a traumatic impact on his family. He had been bullied at school, said Mr Nolan, while he also had been diagnosed with Asbergers. The reports before the court suggested he is at low risk of reoffending.

The defendant’s mother, Karen Kinsella, also said in a letter read out in court that the incidents had a devestating effect on her family. ‘We knew he (Adam) needed help and support. It was the hardest thing to do to have him admitted to St John of God Hospital. We could not get our heads around what had happened. We were all devastated along with the effect it had on our daughter along with the effect on the whole family,’ she said in the letter.

Mr Nolan said that Mrs Kinsella had also received counselling as a result of the impact of all of this.

In evidence, prosecuting garda, Sgt Rory Sheriff said the defendant co-operated fully when he was arrested. He made a full admission and showed remorse for his actions, said Sgt Sheriff.

Kinsella told gardai the reason he sent the letter to St Aidan’s was because he had been bullied there years previously when he was a pupil at the school. He sent the letter to his neighbour Mr Lambert because he was being accused of being involved in the death of a bullock which belonged to Mr Lambert’s brother in law. Kinsella insisted he had nothing to do with the bullock’s death and Sgt Sheriff said no charges were brought against the defendant in this matter.

In his victim impact statement read out before the court, Mr Creedon, who has recently retired as principal of St Aidan’s, spoke of his shock at receiving the letter. ‘I immediately reported the matter to gardaí, reviewed our school security,’ said Mr Creedon.

‘ The board of management decided not to alert parents so close to Christmas as not to cause unnecessary worry for them over the holiday period or prevent them from returning their children to school after the break.’

James Lambert, reading his victim impact statement to the court, said that on receiving the letters they had a devastating effect on his family.

Judge Quinn said he would put sentencing back to April 11 to allow for a Probation and Welfare report, also a report from St. John of God Hospital along with a psychological report. He remanded the defendant on continuing bail.