Bettystown man threatened to kill Ashbourne garda and ‘tortured’ station with calls

A TRIM Circuit Court judge said a Bettystown man who threatened to kill a member of Gardaí “effectively tortured the garda station with phone calls”.

Judge John Martin said "that type of behaviour is completely unacceptable" and this has had significant consequences for Garda Deirdre Semple who was just doing her job.

Andy Wolohan (57), from Ardmore Lane, Bettystown was in Trim Circuit Court on 13th February charged with threatening to kill a member of An Garda Síochána.

Sergeant Declan Brady told the court Mr Wolohan was arrested in 2015 during a public order and criminal damage incident in which Garda Semple was present. He was arrested and handcuffed before being brought to Ashbourne Garda Station. The accused was uncooperative and gardaí used pepper spray on him before he was placed in a cell.

The court heard Mr Wolohan was complaining of chest pain while in the cell and was soon brought to hospital. It was found he suffered from a heart attack and required surgery.

Sgt Brady told the court on 7th October 2019, four years after this incident, Mr Wolohan made several phone calls to Ashbourne Garda Station that started at around half past eight in the evening. The court heard the accused was threatening and highly aggressive, asking if Garda Semple was working there and saying he will kill her.

The phone number was recorded and the accused rang again, claiming to be a member of the press asking for information under the Freedom of Information (FOI) act.

Gardaí were told not to answer his calls but the court heard the phones were constantly ringing due to Mr Wolohan and they were forced to answer. Mr Wolohan also asked for information on the 2015 incident where he was arrested.

Garda Semple was made aware of the calls and the court heard this made her anxious and nervous because she believed he was able to carry out the threats.

On 8th May last year Mr Wolohan was arrested at his home and brought to Ashbourne Garda Station. He made no comment to most of the questions put to him but he said in relation to the 2015 incident “I was just dropped in a cell and left to die”. He also said during interview Garda Semple ruined both his and his family’s life. A guilty plea in this matter was entered in court last year.

The accused has 8 previous convictions with the most recent being on 28th March 2023 for making false calls to Gardaí. Garda Semple’s victim impact statement read to court said she knew her duties as a Garda could put her in difficult situations with hostile people but she “didn’t expect to be blatantly targeted”. When she was informed of Mr Wolohan’s calls she felt an immediate sense of threat and dread, saying it was like a “lead balloon sinking in my stomach”.

Her personal life has been affected because she can’t bring family into her local town in fear she will see the accused. She said she is always committed to protecting the community but wants to show the human impact these threats can make.

Judge Martin said the accused “effectively tortured the garda station with phone calls”.

The judge said “nothing that the guard did brought on a heart attack”. He also said the fact Mr Wolohan was later convicted for making false calls to Gardai following this incident causes him concern.

Defending barrister Barry White SC told the court Mr Wolohan has had complex mental health issues since his childhood and said his ramblings and complaints over the phone “wasn’t the conduct of someone in their full senses”.

The court heard he was physically and sexually abused by one of his teachers at an early age and used alcohol as a coping mechanism.

SC White told the court Mr Wolohan made an attempt on his life last year and, while in hospital, his complex mental and medical issues stabilised in a way they haven’t previously.

The defending barrister told the court “now that he has come to his proper senses” the accused is apologetic and is aware of the gravity of the situation.

He told the court while Mr Wolohan has his full senses this incident will not happen again.

The court heard he has a daughter and step son, one of which suffered a stroke and has dementia.

The accused had €5,000 to offer into court for the injured party as recompensed which his defending barrister told the court is “not money that is easily found”.

Garda Semple accepted the compensation with €500 to be donated to Meath Women’s Refuge.

Judge Martin said this compensation “for most people in our society is a significant amount”.

Judge Martin said the accused has had a difficult upbringing and has the sympathies of every person hears that story.

The judge noted how alcohol was a feature of his life and an explanation for his behaviour but that the accused has made efforts at rehabilitation.

Mr Wolohan was given a two year sentence suspended for two years.

This is on condition the accused enters a peace bond, makes no direct or indirect contact with Garda Semple, unless for specific reasons such as for investigating criminal behaviour, and remains alcohol free.