A man made threats to kill against a garda, his home and his family while a second man made gun gestures at the officer, a court has heard.
Ernestas Steponkus (30) and Luke Donnan (24) had no excuses for their behaviour, which was reprehensible, their lawyer said.
Judge Monika Leech said the garda was effectively threatened and set upon, and it must have been a terrible experience.
In relation to Donnan, Judge Leech imposed a three-month sentence, suspended for one year.
For Steponkus, the judge ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to a date in June.
Steponkus, of Buirg an Rí Walk, Balgaddy, Lucan, and Donnan, of Foxdene Avenue in Clondalkin, admitted making threats to kill or cause serious harm to Garda Michael Staunton on February 15, 2021.
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Sergeant Killian Leydon told Blanchardstown District Court Gda Staunton was on mobile patrol in the Balgaddy area when he received a report of a scrambler bike being driven around.
Gda Staunton was on Buirg an Rí Walk, where he encountered Steponkus.
There was an argument and a scrambler bike was removed from the scene.
Steponkus then made a number of threats to the garda, Sgt Leydon said, including a threat to kill him and threats against his private dwelling and his family.
Donnan, who was standing beside Steponkus, did not speak, but he made gun gestures to Gda Staunton.
The court heard that both men had previous convictions.
Defence solicitor Simon Fleming said Donnan had since sought out the garda and had apologised for his behaviour, and the apology had been accepted by the officer.
Mr Fleming said Donnan’s behaviour was the lesser of the two men. He said the incident happened in 2021 and the threats had not been actioned upon.
Mr Fleming said Donnan, a father of one, was a much younger man at the time of the incident.
Donnan also realised his behaviour was reprehensible, and he had not tried to justify it.
In relation to Steponkus, Mr Fleming said was at risk of a jail sentence and the court would benefit from a probation report.
THEN YOU HAVE:
Teenager charged with taxi hijacking
Andrew Phelan
Tue 30 Nov 2010 at 15:00
A TEENAGER has been accused of hijacking a taxi after bludgeoning the driver over the head with a bottle.
Dean Clarke (19) (pictured) allegedly hit the cabbie on the back of the head and got into his seat, driving the taxi around west Dublin before crashing it.
The case against him is due to be sent for a Circuit Court trial after a judge ruled that it was too serious to be dealt with in the District Court.
Clarke, with an address at Leland Drive, Clondalkin, is charged with unlawful seizure of a vehicle at the Red Cow Hotel on January 13, 2010. The charge is under Section 10 of the Road Traffic Act.
He is also charged with unlawful possession of a weapon.
Garda Steven Monaghan said he arrested the accused at Clondalkin Garda Station, where he was charged and made no reply after caution.
Garda Monaghan asked for an adjournment in the case and said the DPP had directed summary trial, meaning that there was consent to charges being dealt with in Dublin District Court, subject to the decision of the presiding judge.
Judge Dermot Dempsey asked for an outline of the alleged facts to allow him to consider whether to accept jurisdiction.
The garda said it was alleged that the taxi driver picked up a fare at the Red Cow Hotel at 3.57am on the morning in question.
The garda did not know whether the cab driver suffered any injuries.
Judge Dempsey refused jurisdiction to deal with the case and adjourned it for the preparation of a book of evidence.
A co-defendant, Ernestas Steponkus (18) of Lindisfarne Grove, Clondalkin, is charged with unlawful seizure of keys. He had the case against him adjourned to the same date.
