No jail for convicted killer who threatened to burn down charity worker's home

A man with a previous conviction for manslaughter has received a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for threatening to burn down the home of a charity worker. The defendant, aged 31 and from Swords Road, Dublin 9, pleaded guilty to making a threat to damage the property of a man running a soup run for homeless people on Dame Street on May 27, 2016. The threat was motivated by anger that the charity was assisting a relative with whom the defendant had fallen out. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a two-year sentence, suspended on strict conditions, describing the behaviour as "absolutely disgraceful, horrible and despicable" and noting it was directed at someone engaged in charitable work. The judge warned the defendant he faced imprisonment if he breached the conditions, which include staying away from the charity worker and his home. The defendant, who has 60 previous convictions, was said to have been intoxicated at the time but has reportedly made significant changes to his life in recent months.