A Co Donegal coal merchant who made a threat to a Donegal County Council official has agreed to pay his victim €1,000 in compensation.
Patrick Doherty pleaded guilty to the incident which occurred on March 7th, 2023.
Letterkenny District Court heard how the 32-year-old was confronted by a staff member from Donegal County Council after being spotted with bags of smokey coal on his vehicle.
Doherty of Crana View, Buncrana, Doherty was charged with intimidation of a witness at Letterkenny Shopping Centre Car Park, Letterkenny.
The man’s solicitor, Mr Ciaran Mac Lochlainn, previously told the court that his client was charged with threatening behaviour.
Doherty was stopped by the Donegal County Council inspector and prosecuted for having bags of smokey coal on the back of the lorry.
Mr Mac Lochlainn said his client engaged in “inappropriate banter” and the witness felt threatened.
Mr Mac Lochlainn outlined: “He was asked: ‘Are you threatening me?’. And my client said: ‘No, but I know a man who will. Wait ’til my solicitor, Ciaran Mac Lochlainn, gets his hands on you”.
A victim impact statement was handed into the court on behalf of the Donegal County Council employee.
Mr Mac Lochlainn told Judge Éiteáin Cunningham that the prosecution in relation to the smoky coal was dismissed by another Judge.
“The witness obviously did not appreciate what was going on,” Mr Mac Lochlainn said. “It was inappropriate. It was an encounter that should have been avoided.”
Judge Cunningham said she would adjourn the matter for a couple of months so the issue of compensation could be canvassed.
Mr Mac Lochlainn asked if €500 would be an appropriate amount and Judge Cunningham said she believed that, given the contents of the victim impact statement, at least €1,000 should be offered.
The court was adjourned until today to hear from the accused and from the injured party.
Garda Sergeant Jim Collins said the victim was happy to accept the compensation.
Solicitor Mr Mac Lochlainn said his client would pay the €1,000 but was already on a pre-booked holiday.
THe case was adjourned to July 10th to allow the money to be paid into court to be passed onto the victim.