Man (45) allegedly made threats to two solicitors

A man who allegedly made threats to two solicitors and wrote 'Liar 666' in graffiti on the office walls of one of them was remanded to the medical wing of Cloverhill Prison for two days until the judge gets to talk with the defendant’s GP.

James Murphy (45), Daingean Road, Tullamore, Co Offaly appeared in Athy District Court from custody following his arrest the night before (24 June) in relation to the charges, and was patiently indulged by Judge Desmond Zaidan as he shouted incoherently and inaudibly throughout the hearing.

“Are you concerned?” the judge asked Garda Chris McDonagh, the investigating officer.

“Not really, he was admitted to hospital last night, but released back into garda custody this morning,” he explained.

“Are there mental health issues? Because something has angered him,” he said.

“I can’t see why he’s so disruptive, but I’m told there’s no intoxicants involved,” he added.

“It’s alleged criminal damage, judge. There are issues between him and David Powderley,” said Garda McDonagh.

“On 10 June, Mr Powderley’s premises were spray-painted with 'Liar' and '666' in both Kilcock and Maynooth.

“Isn’t that Damien?” said the judge, correctly guessing the movie reference to the Revelations’ ‘Number of the Beast’.

“He then made threats to Jacqui McManus by phone, outlining his threats to Mr Powderley, who is chairman of the school board of the national school where Mr Murphy’s children go to school,” said the guard.

“The defendant believes Mr Powderley is to blame for a letter that’s stopping him from seeing his children,” he added.

“We believe he has followed both Mr Powderley and his brother home,” he said.

“There could possibly be more charges coming,” he testified.

This was then clarified by Sergeant Dave Hanrahan, who said: “Gardaí would have serious concerns for bail, as we expect charges of threats to kill.”

Then, a first for Athy District Court happened, when the judge turned to the practitioners seeking a legal aid solicitor for Mr Murphy, and they all refused. 

Brian Larkin suggested that because of the allegations maybe an out-of-county solicitor might be appointed, but eventually relented and took him on. 

Garda McDonagh continued and told the court that when charged with the criminal damage the previous evening in Naas, his formal reply was: “A few cartridges through his window would’ve been criminal damage.”

“So, all the anger is to do with Mr Powderley, are there underlying issues?” asked the judge.

“He’s angry with not being given access to his children,” said Garda McDonagh.

“He was assessed in (Naas) hospital by the doctor on duty, not a psychiatrist,” clarified Sgt Hanrahan.

“The hospital deemed him fit to appear in court,” shrugged Garda McDonagh, who then revealed Mr Murphy had said his doctor was a Donal Sheehan. 

The judge then let the case stand until the afternoon, to allow Garda McDonagh contact this doctor and gain some more background. 

When the court resumed, Garda McDonagh revealed Dr Sheehan said that he last saw Murphy on 11 April and had diagnosed him with “bipolar disorder, type 1”.

“He becomes erratic when he doesn’t take his medication, it’s all very sad,” said the judge.

“What else did the doctor say?” he asked.

“He would be better helped in a mental health institution,” said Garda McDonagh.

“You release them and tell them to take their medication – some do, some don’t,” he noted.

“If I took it at face value an hour ago, these are significant charges and James is a danger to himself and others,” he added.

“Can we get him a bed in Lakeview (mental health wing in Naas)?” asked the judge.

“Only if he’s sectioned,” clarified Sgt Hanrahan.

“This man needs help … I’m going to remand him to the medical wing of Cloverhill until Thursday (27 June) to appear by videolink in Naas,” he said.

“If his GP wants to come to court then, I’d welcome that,” he concluded.