'Menacing’ - suspended sentence for man who threatened Gardaí's lives
The threats were made to two members of Gardaí.
A 23-year-old Waterford man has received a suspended sentence for threatening the lives of two members of An Garda Síochána.
Edward Fraher, of Hillview Drive, Dungarvan, pleaded guilty in July 2023 to making unlawful threats to kill, contrary to Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences to the Person Act.
On the night of September 12, 2022, two on-duty Gardaí observed Fraher at a location in Dungarvan.
The Gardaí, one of whom is a Sergeant, had approached Fraher having seen that he was breaking his court-ordered curfew. Fraher was on bail at the time.
Fraher threatened to shoot the Gardaí, and made specific reference to their homes, addresses and cars.
The Court heard that Fraher said that he could kill the Sergeant with 'one phone call', threatened to shoot him and to burn down his house.
According to a Gardaí witness: "[Fraher] told him that he knew where he lived, what car he drove and told him that he was going to shoot him; all he had to do was to make a phonecall and his house would be up in flames."
At Waterford Circuit Court, Judge Eugene O’Kelly heard that Fraher has 19 previous convictions.
Defence counsel Sarah Jane Comerford BL told Judge O’Kelly that Fraher had taken proactive steps in rehabilitating.
Giving the sentence, Judge O'Kelly commented that it was clear that Fraher had 'clearly researched' the Gardaí by describing their homes and cars.
He noted also that the threat caused the Sergeant to alter his life on a day to day basis.
“I find that detail to be both menacing and sinister,” said Judge O’Kelly.
He imposed a headline sentence of five years, with one year reduced for mitigation.
Judge O’Kelly then suspended the remaining four years, with Fraher required to abide by the Probation Service for a period of two years. He is ordered to keep the peace and to not come to any adverse attention for the next four years.
