A LIMERICK grandfather has told a jury at Limerick Circuit Court that a man threatened to “f**king shoot” him dead.
Thomas O’Neill (28), of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, denies threatening to kill Liam Casey (53) of Hyde Road Prospect on November 17 last.
Liam Casey, a local bus driver, said that he was with his then 14-year-old granddaughter outside his daughter’s house on Byrne Avenue when the offence is alleged to have occurred.
Mr Casey said that “I was in a car, and I saw three people coming down the path. Thomas O’Neill, his brother and another man.
“Thomas O’Neil kept looking over at me and then threatened to kill him.
He told the jury that Thomas O’Neill said “Ye are going to get fixed, you are going to get it tonight. I’m going to shoot you dead, shoot you fucking dead.
“I was frightened for my life and my granddaughter’s life. He’s known for that,” Mr Casey said in evidence.
“My granddaughter came out and as she got in, I saw a Garda squad car and tried to flag it down, but they didn’t see me.
“I left straight away and went to Roxboro Garda Barracks.
He told defence counsel Brian McInerney BL that he was “panicking”.
Denying he told a previous court sitting that he wasn’t worried about what O’Neill allegedly said, he added, “when something like that happens you would get very worried and frightened.
Asked about the specifics of the threat, Mr Casey told Mr McInerney that “he couldn’t recall everything, I’m on at least 20 tablets a day and I didn’t read my statement.
Mr Casey, who said that he was released from hospital last week, denied that he was on a “bucket of tablets” or that the medication impaired his memory.
When it was put to him that he got the make of car he was driving wrong, “I’m not too sure with makes of cars”, he said.
Denying he spoke with his family about the alleged events, Mr Casey said “I’ve had threats before”.
The trial continues before Judge Tom O’Donnell and a jury of five women and seven men.
