Enniskillen Court House
A BELLEEK man convicted of threatening to shoot his step-son in the head during a row at their home has been ordered to stay away from his victim.
David Dillon (71) of Main Street, Belleek appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court for sentencing on Monday. He previously contested charges of threats to kill, possession of an offensive weapon with the intention of committing an offence, common assault, and threats to damage property.
Josef Dunleavy told the court that on February 5th this year he returned to the family home on the Tullychurry Road, where he lived with his mother, sister, and Dillon, who was his mother’s partner.
An argument broke out between Mr Dunleavy and the defendant regarding tools being thrown out of a shed onto the ground.
During that argument Mr Dunleavy said Dillon “came up to my face and said he’d blow my f**king brains out,” and had made a gesture with his fingers, representing a gun to the head.
He said Dillon had a licensed rifle, and he was afraid that he would get the gun and use it to kill him, his mother, or his sister.
Mr Dunleavy claimed Dillon then went and got a meat cleaver from the kitchen, so he shouted at his mother and they, along with his sister, left the house.
They brought their mother to SWAH as she had pain in her back, and from there they called the police.
It was also alleged in court that Dillon had threatened to burn the house down.
In his evidence, Dillon denied all the allegations against him but admitted there had been an argument between himself and Mr Dunleavy, stating his stepson had been upset.
He explained that after the argument he’d gone into the kitchen to make breakfast and to access a pot stand he had to remove two meat choppers from a rack, which he said he replaced right away.
He said he did not advance towards Mr Dunleavy with the blade.
Dillon was found not guilty of common assault and possessing an offensive weapon but convicted of the threats to kill and damage property.
At this week’s adjourned sentencing hearing, defence solicitor Gary Black said his client continued to deny the remaining charges.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said he would not give the defendant credit for this.
He fined Dillon a total of £315 and imposed a three-year restraining order.
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