A court has heard how a series of threatening messages to a local Senator made him consider his future in politics.
David Larkin of Ardnacassa lawns, Longford appeared before Longford District Court this afternoon to be sentenced for harassment.
The charge related to a series of text and Facebook messages along with a voice message sent to Longford based Senator Michael Carrigy over a number of days in December 2021 and January/February 2022.
Sergeant Paul Kearney described to Longford District Court this afternoon how the Longford Senator began receiving threatening messages on his public Facebook page in December 2021.
The comments made under an account with the name Andrew Hilary told Senator Carrigy how there'd be no mercy for him and that he'd be taken to the 'train station' for his actions.
Close to a month later, the victim began receiving text messages from a number he didn't know, threatening him that 'no amount of security will save you' and that he can look forward to being publicly hanged like other politicians.
The contact culminated on February 14th when Senator Carrigy received a voicemail threatening his children over his support for the Covid-19 vaccine.
The recording, which was traced back to Mr Larkin's phone, claimed that 'we the people will bring you to justice for pushing that poison on us'.
According to the transcript of the voice mail read out in court, the Senator was told that it would be slow and brutal and that his children would be sterilised leaving 'no legacy' for the local politician.
Mr Larkin had admitted to sending the messages and creating a fake Facebook account, pleading guilty to the charge in September last year.
A victim impact statement from Senator Carrigy described how the messages left him in fear for the security of his family.
Addressing the court himself, the rural postmaster said he and his wife found the threats to their children extremely disturbing.
He described how the events had made him feel watched, commenting that the behaviour of the defendant 'cannot be accepted in civilized society.'
He says the incident had resulted in him questioning his role in politics due to the effect the threats had on him and his family.
Addressing the court this evening, Judge Owens commented that Mr Larkin appeared very different in behaviour than his last time before the court in September and it was like 'looking at a different man'.
Defence solicitor Frank Geraghty described his client as a keyboard warrior before confirming with Sergeant Kearney that the Mr Larkin had cooperated with Gardaí, had apologised to the victim and abided by all bail terms.
Judge Bernadette Owens then postponed sentencing for a further six months in order for a new probation report to be prepared, with David Larkin remanded on bail.
The matter will return before the court in May.
