Ireland Case No. 5099Threat to kill or cause serious harm · Co. Galway · 4 Aug 2024
Connemara man charged over threat to Simon Harris remanded on bail
Patrick Grealish, 48, of Lettermullen, Co Galway, was charged with issuing a threat on social media to kill or cause serious harm to Taoiseach Simon Harris and his family. He was remanded on continuing bail at Derrynea District Court.
- Reported6 Aug
2 reports - Arrested11 Aug
4 reports - Charged11 Aug
- In court12 Aug
4 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports83 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí were alerted to Instagram posts in which a person claimed they had knives out for Simon Harris. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA post reportedly threatened Harris's wife and children. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatGardaí are investigating threats against Taoiseach Simon Harris and his family made on social media. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man has been arrested in connection with online threats against Taoiseach Simon Harris. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe threatening messages have since been removed and referred to Harris and his family. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe threats were made online against an elected representative. (garda.ie)
- whatA man from Co Galway was arrested on suspicion of making online threats against the Taoiseach and his family. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whatThe threat was issued on a social media platform the previous week (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe threat was directed at Mr Harris and his young family (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPatrick Grealish is accused of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Simon Harris and his family. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPatrick Grealish was charged with issuing a threat on social media to kill or cause serious harm to Taoiseach Simon Harris and his family. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGrealish was charged with issuing a threat on social media to kill or cause serious harm to Taoiseach Simon Harris and his family. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe post contained a reference to the Wicklow mountains. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe threat was posted on a public Instagram account. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe man was arrested in Galway. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe suspect is held at a Garda station in the North Western Region. (garda.ie)
- whereThe arrest was made in Co Galway. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whereThe arrest was made in the north-west region (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGrealish appeared before a judge at a special sitting of Galway District Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- wherePatrick Grealish is from Lettermullen, Co Galway. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGrealish is from Garraí an Choirce, Lettermullen, Co Galway. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe threats were made at the weekend. (irishtimes.com)
- whenGardaí launched an investigation earlier this week after comments were made in an Instagram post. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe arrest was made on Sunday 11 August 2024. (garda.ie)
- whenThe arrest took place on the morning of Sunday 11 August 2024. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whenThe man was arrested on Sunday 11 August 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenGrealish was charged at 10:04pm on the night before the court appearance. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenHe was charged at 10:04pm on the night before the court appearance. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whenThe threat is alleged to have been made on August 4th. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged threat was made on August 4th. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe threat was reportedly made on a social media platform the previous weekend and was believed to threaten an attack on Simon Harris and his family. (galwaybeo.ie)
- weaponThe threats contained references to a weapon and extreme violence. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA Garda spokesperson confirmed the matter is under investigation. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGarda sources said they became aware of the post very soon after it was published. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGarda Headquarters confirmed that an investigation had commenced. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí need to liaise with Instagram to establish the identity of the user. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí said they arrested a male in his 40s on the morning of Sunday 11 August 2024. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe man was arrested as part of an investigation into online threats against an elected representative. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe suspect is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe threat remained online for a number of days before being removed by Meta. (galwaybeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí said they were investigating online threats against an elected representative and had arrested a male in his 40s. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationGardaí are not providing further information at this time. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationThe man is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested Grealish at Galway regional Garda headquarters for the purpose of charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí say they will allege Grealish was caught red-handed with the device allegedly used to post the message. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested him the day before he was charged, at Galway regional Garda headquarters. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationGardaí say they expect to show he was caught red-handed with the device allegedly used to post the message. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationThe accused accepted that the device found was his. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationDet Sgt Eamonn O’Neill said Grealish was arrested on Sunday and charged at Galway Regional Garda Headquarters. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí said Grealish was caught red-handed with the device allegedly used to post the message. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGrealish was arrested in early August. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA man in his 40s has been charged. (garda.ie)
- chargeHe is accused of making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Simon Harris and his family. (galwaybeo.ie)
- chargeThe offence is under Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, which carries up to 10 years on conviction. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe offence under Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997 carries up to 10 years on conviction. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe is expected to appear before Galway District Court at 3pm on Monday, 12th August 2024. (garda.ie)
- courtGardaí objected to bail because of the seriousness of the offence. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Furlong granted bail on conditions including staying off the internet and social media and handing over his passport. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtGardaí asked that the accused stay away from the injured party and have no contact with him directly or indirectly. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtGrealish was granted legal aid and bailed on his own bond of €500. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtGrealish appeared before Judge Gerard Furlong at a special sitting of Galway District Court. (galwaybeo.ie)
- courtBail was granted on conditions including staying off the internet and social media and handing over his passport. (galwaybeo.ie)
- courtHe was granted legal aid and bailed on his own bond of 500 euro. (galwaybeo.ie)
- courtGrealish appeared before Judge Gerard Furlong at a special sitting of Galway District Court on Monday afternoon. (irishtimes.com)
- courtGardaí objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the offence and that it related to a member of Government. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Furlong set bail at €500. (irishtimes.com)
- courtGrealish agreed to bail conditions including no contact with the injured party, surrendering his passport, and an 11pm-7am curfew. (irishtimes.com)
- courtGrealish was remanded on bail to appear before Derrynea District Court on September 17th. (irishtimes.com)
- courtGardaí sought an eight-week adjournment for directions from the DPP. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Fahy remanded Grealish on continuing bail until a sitting of Derrynea District Court on November 19. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBail conditions included staying off all social media. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe threat reportedly remained online for two days after gardaí asked Instagram to remove it. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe user behind the account has made the page private. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe threat is described as the latest against Harris, following protesters outside his home and a bomb threat. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe account has since been switched to a private setting. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Taoiseach’s office was informed of the post. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe threats were described as especially sinister because they referred to Mr Harris and his family. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe man is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in the Garda North Western Region. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherAn Garda Síochána is not providing further information at this time. (garda.ie)
- otherThe male in his 40s is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in the Garda North Western Region. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherThe offence carries a penalty on conviction on indictment of up to 10 years in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe court was told the offence carries a penalty on conviction on indictment of up to 10 years in prison. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherThe defence said Grealish is the sole carer for his elderly mother. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Sep2024Connemara man (48) charged over threat to Simon Harris remanded on bail
Court report on the charge and bail. Adds the accused's address, the alleged date, the arrest in early August, the bail conditions, and the next court date of November 19.
accused, Patrick Grealish, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Grealishvictim, Simon Harris, male, irish (judged from name)Simon Harris - 12 Aug2024Man charged with social media threat to kill Taoiseach released on bail
Adds the court appearance at Galway District Court, the arrest and charge details, the bail amount of €500 and its conditions, and the remand date of September 17th.
suspect, Patrick Grealish, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Grealishvictim, Simon Harris, male, irish (judged from name)Simon Harris - 12 Aug2024Galway man in court charged with threatening to kill Simon Harris and family
Reports the special sitting at Galway District Court where Grealish was charged and granted bail, including the arrest, charge time, bail conditions and the penalty the court was told applies.
accused, Patrick Grealish, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Grealishvictim, Simon Harris, irish (judged from name)Simon Harris - 12 Aug2024Galway man in court charged with threatening to kill Taoiseach and his family
Reports the special sitting at Galway District Court on Monday 12 August 2024, where bail was granted with conditions and the accused was granted legal aid. Gardaí had objected to bail; the article adds the bail conditions, the arrest and charge details, and the alleged device used.
accused, Patrick Grealish, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Grealishvictim, Simon Harris, irish (judged from name)Simon Harris - 12 Aug2024Man arrested over sinister online threats against Taoiseach Simon Harris
Reports the arrest on 11 August 2024 and detention under Section 4, and provides context about previous threats and security incidents involving the Taoiseach, including a bomb threat in June and anti-immigration protests at his Greystones home.
victim, Simon Harris, male, irish (judged from name)Simon Harrissuspect, 40s, male - 11 Aug2024Galway 'nutjob' arrested following threats to Taoiseach Simon Harris and family
Confirms the arrest of a male in his 40s on Sunday 11 August 2024, says the threat was made on social media the previous weekend and remained online for several days before Meta removed it, and states he is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
suspect, 40s, malevictim, Simon Harris, irish (judged from name)Simon Harris - 11 Aug2024Arrest: Threats Against an Elected Representative. 11th August, 2024.
Garda press release confirming the arrest; no further details provided by An Garda Síochána.
suspect, 40s, male - 11 Aug2024Court Appearance: Threats Against an Elected Representative, 11th August 2024
Press release confirming the charge and the Galway District Court appearance date of 12 August 2024. It does not name the man or give the date of the threats.
accused, 40s, male - 11 Aug2024Man arrested in connection with online threats against Taoiseach Simon Harris
Reports the arrest on 11 August 2024 of a man in his 40s in Galway over online threats posted on Instagram; the threatening messages have since been removed.
suspect, 40s, male - 6 Aug2024Gardaí investigate ‘especially sinister’ Instagram threats made to Taoiseach and his family
First report of the Instagram post and the Garda investigation into it, before any arrest or charge. It describes the threat as referring to a weapon and extreme violence, and says gardaí need Instagram's help to identify the user.
victim, Simon Harris, male, irish (judged from name)Simon Harris - 6 Aug2024Gardai investigate online knife threats to Taoiseach Simon Harris and his family
Adds details of the Instagram posts: the reported knife threat, the reference to the Wicklow mountains, the two days online after the garda request, and that the account has been made private. Says no arrest is mentioned and the matter is under investigation.
victim, Simon Harris, irish (judged from name)Simon Harrissuspect