A 23-year-old man who was serving a suspended sentence when he threatened to kill another motorist who overtook him has been sent for a probation report.
Sean Maher (23), with an address at Ely Drive, Tallaght, Dublin 24, pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to another man on Convent Road, Blackrock, on January 2, 2025, contrary to Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.
Dún Laoghaire District Court heard that the injured party overtook Maher’s car, after which Maher drove up behind the vehicle and revved his engine. The other driver pulled in and Maher stopped alongside the car, where a verbal altercation took place and the defendant threatened to “put bullets in your head”.
The injured party did not attend court and declined to submit a victim impact statement.
Defence counsel, Michael O’Brien BL, told the court that Maher had been clinically diagnosed with depression and ADHD and was in the process of changing medication at the time of the incident, which he said may have affected his behaviour.
Judge Anne Watkin said many people live with depression and ADHD without committing offences and questioned whether medication was being relied on without any proper basis, particularly given the timing and Maher’s previous history.
She said the court needed clear information on how medication could have affected Maher and how his current treatment would reduce the risk of it happening again.
When asked by Judge Watkin if Maher had any previous convictions, a garda said he had five, all arising from the same incident.
The court heard Maher received a one-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Court for aggravated burglary and two assault offences, and that this offence was committed while he was on that suspended sentence.
Judge Watkin said that road rage comments range from something stupid to something very serious, adding that the court had to look at what lay behind the threat. She noted Maher’s previous convictions for serious offences and said this was not happening in isolation.
A garda told the court that Maher had been extremely apologetic when he was brought in the following day.
Judge Watkin adjourned the matter to Monday, April 27, for the preparation of a probation report, saying it would need to clearly set out Maher’s medical situation and why the court could be satisfied the behaviour would not be repeated.