Threatened to blow judge's head off

A Mountmellick man who threatened to blow a judge’s head off has been granted an appeal against a prison sentence having completed anger management.

John Horan, Mountmellick, was sentenced to three months’ prison in Portlaoise District Court for threatening or abusive behaviour.

Details of the offence are that on December 20, 2016, during the hearing of a civil law matter the appellant became abusive towards the other party and her partner.

He returned to the court some time later and became abusive towards the judge.

He made references to knowing the number of the judge’s car and said he would “blow the head off” the judge.

His appeal was adjourned by Portlaoise Circuit Court on a number of occasions and last week, Judge Keenan Johnson noted the appellant had completed an anger management course. The three-month sentence was suspended for three years on condition the appellant enter into a peace bond.