A Dublin man described in court as “a loner” has been refused bail after being charged with threatening to kill Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald in a social media video.
Richard McGreevy (28), of Whitechurch Place, Rathfarnham, appeared before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court on Friday.
Evidence was given about alleged threats against the politician and claims of incitement to violence against Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
McGreevy, who said he had an acquired brain injury and memory problems, told the judge he had not intended that the TikTok video would go viral.
The Garda investigation follows a complaint by Ms McDonald after footage of a man in a balaclava was shared on social media platforms.
Officers from the Special Detective Unit (SDU), which investigates subversive, terrorist and organised crime and threats to the State, arrested him at his south Dublin home on Thursday morning.
They brought him to Terenure Garda Station for questioning.
He was then charged under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and held overnight pending his court appearance.
McGreevy is accused of making threats to kill or cause serious harm to the Sinn Féin leader.
The offence allegedly occurred on July 16th at his home.
Detective Sergeant Gareth Kane told the court that McGreevy “made no reply” to the charge. The detective sergeant objected to bail based on witness intimidation or interference concerns. On conviction, the offence carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence, the court heard.
Evidence
According to the SDU officer, the evidence in the case was strong. He said gardaí had seized all devices used to post the video.
Admissions were said to have been made in Garda custody.
Cross-examined by defence solicitor Kevin Tunney, the Garda agreed it could take a long time to get a decision from the Director of Public Prosecutions on his client’s trial venue.
He agreed that it was likely that the case would be sent forward to the Circuit Court.
The solicitor said his client had memory problems, and Detective Sergeant Kane agreed with Mr Tunney when he stated his client was “a young man who had a difficult childhood”.
The solicitor told the court McGreevy’s father died when he was a child, and his mother abandoned him when he was aged three, and the garda said, “I believe it was chaotic”.
The defence solicitor submitted that his client had two dogs which had to go into a pound; he also told the court his client was in social housing, which he could lose if he went into custody for a lengthy period.
He argued that his client could be subject to conditions, sign on daily at a Garda station and stay off social media. Asked if that would ease his fears, Detective Sergeant Kane said, “No, but it is in the court’s hands,” and he did not alter his objection to bail.
Detective Sergeant Kane said the charge was serious. He claimed the accused “broadcast on TikTok that he was going to kill a TD, and he incited violence against the commissioner of the Gardaí and other gardai”.
I was so angry that day.
At that point, McGreevy, standing at the side of the courtroom, spoke up and addressed the judge. He said: “I was angry that day, I was so angry that day, I’ve already explained this. I put that up; I didn’t mean it to go so viral.”
Mr Tunney suggested his client was “a loner”, and Detective Sergeant Kane agreed that he was not a member of any organisation or gang.
Dressed in a pale blue sweater, light grey tracksuit bottoms and white runners, Mr McGreevy said: “Literally, I’m on my own, with my dogs like.”
The defence lawyer also raised concerns about prejudicial media coverage ahead of the court hearing.
Judge Paula Murphy noted the seriousness of the case and evidence and refused bail. Legal aid was granted to the accused, who was remanded in custody pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
He will face his next hearing on July 26th at Cloverhill District Court.
The video containing the threats was initially posted on TikTok but went viral online.
TikTok and Meta said the video violated their guidelines and has been removed from their platforms.
