A woman who sent voice notes threatening to take a lump hammer to another woman’s head and burn down the victim’s mother’s house during a row over an e-scooter has avoided a jail sentence.
Theresa O’Reilly (34), of Alderwood Grove, Springfield, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to threatening to burn down the injured party’s mother’s house, threatening to kill or seriously harm the woman and her family, and demanding €500.
Judge Peter White handed O’Reilly three six-month prison sentences, all suspended in full for 18 months, at Tallaght District Court.
Detective Sergeant Gemma Collins told the court the offences arose from a row over money involving an e-scooter in March 2025.
The court heard that O’Reilly threatened to burn down the injured party’s mother’s house and left voice messages, in which she threatened to take a lump hammer to the woman’s head.
She pleaded guilty to demanding €500 from the injured party on March 15, 2025.
She also admitted threatening to burn down the woman’s mother’s house on March 13, 2025.
O’Reilly further pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or seriously harm the woman and members of her family on March 15, 2025.
The court heard all of the offences involved the same injured party and that the threats were made through voice messages sent by phone.
Judge White noted that O’Reilly has 13 previous convictions, including a number under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, dating back to around 2009.
Defending counsel, Sarah Patton BL, said her client was taking the matter “incredibly seriously” and was deeply remorseful for her actions.
The court heard O’Reilly had been under pressure at the time. Judge White referred to letters handed into court in mitigation from family members who described O’Reilly as someone who puts her children and family before herself, even when she is the one in need of support.
Judge White said the offences were serious and “not idle threats”.
He acknowledged the stressful period in O’Reilly’s life, including the pressures she was under, and said he had taken the mitigation into account.
For threatening to damage property, Judge White imposed a six-month prison sentence, suspended in full for 18 months on condition that O’Reilly keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
He imposed a further six-month sentence, also suspended for 18 months, for threatening to kill or seriously harm the injured party.
A third six-month sentence was imposed and suspended for 18 months for threatening to kill or seriously harm members of the injured party’s family.
The charge of demanding €500 from the injured party was taken into consideration.