Man allegedly told neighbour he was ‘going to kill him' after row over tree
A father of four and his wife were left 'extremely shaken' when their neighbour allegedly told him to ring for an ambulance 'because he was going to kill him' following a heated row over a fallen tree in the wake of Storm Eowyn.
John Joe Bartley (54) Ranaghan, Castlepollard, Westmeath appeared at a sitting of Mullingar District Court charged with trespassing and causing €300 worth of damage when he was accused of throwing stones at the window of his victim's home.
The court was told how the incident had stemmed from Bartley's attempts to cut a tree that had fallen outside the home of his neighbour on January 31 this year.
John Joe Bartley allegedly told his neighbour to phone an ambulance because "he was going to kill him" when the man informed him he was going to contact gardaí, a court has heard.
Sgt Sheila Kenny said it will be the State's case that the accused began shouting obscenities when noticing the injured party looking out from his front porch.
When the man informed Bartley of his intention to contact gardaí, Judge Bernadette Owens was told it will be alleged the accused advised him on two separate occasions to 'ring an ambulance because he was going to kill him'.
Sgt Kenny said the State will also contend how moments later, Bartley attempted to gain entry to his neighbour's home only to find its doors had been locked by the man.
Having failed in those attempts, Sgt Kenny said it will be further alleged that Bartley then picked up stones from the ground and began throwing them at a window, causing chips to its glass.
The incident, it was alleged, came to a close when Bartley shouted in the direction of the man for a second time before getting behind the wheel of his van and leaving.
Sgt Kenny said the man and his wife had been left 'extremely shaken' by the incident with 'upset' also being caused to the couple's four young children who were inside the house at the time.
John Joe Bartley outside Mullingar Courthouse.
Bartley, who wore blue jeans with a navy and white shirt together with a green jacket to court, did not speak or enter a plea and instead stood quietly alongside his solicitor Louis Kiernan.
Having noted the estimated €300 damage which had been caused as a result of the incident, Judge Owens ruled the case was one which could be dealt with in the District Court as she accepted jurisdiction.
Mr Kiernan, meanwhile, applied for the disclosure of all relevant State evidence in order to consider his client's position in terms of meeting the case.
Judge Owens remanded Bartley on bail to a sitting of Mullingar District Court on September 18.
John Joe Bartley outside Mullingar Courthouse.
Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 June 2025
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