Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 19543Threats to kill, criminal damage · Co. Longford · 26 Mar 2023

Longford District Court refuses jurisdiction over alleged chainsaw threats case

Kieran McNally (34), a man from Greagh, Drumlish, Co Longford, is alleged to have threatened to kill a woman and her entire family after a dispute over a returned television, and to have waved a chainsaw at a house in Corneddan, Ballinalee, on March 26, 2023. He was charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the woman and with criminal damage to a fence, and was also charged with allegedly damaging a garda van custody area the following day. At a Longford District Court sitting in early October 2023, Judge Miriam Walsh refused jurisdiction and the case is expected to go back to the DPP. The latest development is that McNally was remanded on continuing bail to December 12.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court10 Oct
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Kieran McNally, 34, of Greagh, Drumlish, Co Longford, is alleged to have threatened to kill a woman and her entire family.
  • The threats are alleged to have been made in menacing phone calls to the woman.
  • McNally is alleged to have then taken the chainsaw to a nearby timber fence.
Where
The alleged incident took place at Corneddan, Ballinalee, Co Longford.
When
The alleged incident took place on March 26, 2023.
Cause
The dispute began when the woman went to McNally's home in Drumlish to return a television, and they had a verbal spat.
Weapon
McNally is alleged to have arrived at the address armed with a chainsaw and waved it outside the property.
Charges
  • McNally was charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the woman and with allegedly causing criminal damage to the fence.
  • McNally was also charged with allegedly damaging the custody area of a garda van on the following day under Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act.
In court
  • At Longford District Court, Judge Miriam Walsh refused jurisdiction, so the case will not be heard there.
  • The case is expected to be sent back to the DPP to decide whether it should go to the Circuit Criminal Court.
  • McNally was remanded on continuing bail to December 12.
Other details
The court sitting was reported in articles published on October 10 and 11, 2023.
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA Longford man is alleged to have threatened to kill a woman and her entire family. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe accused is alleged to have made menacing phone calls to the woman and threatened to kill the injured party and all her family. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe accused allegedly threatened to kill the woman and all her family during phone calls. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe accused allegedly waved the chainsaw outside the property and then took it to a nearby timber fence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe alleged incident happened at Corneddan, Ballinalee, Co Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whereThe alleged incident took place at Corneddan, Ballinalee, Co Longford. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe alleged incident happened on March 26. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whenThe alleged incident took place on March 26 of 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeThe dispute started after the woman went to the accused's home in Drumlish to return a television. (longfordleader.ie)
  • causeThe accused and the alleged victim had a verbal spat after she arrived at his home in Drumlish to return a television. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponThe accused is alleged to have arrived at the address armed with a chainsaw. (longfordleader.ie)
  • weaponThe accused allegedly arrived at the address armed with a chainsaw. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe accused was charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the woman and with allegedly causing criminal damage to the fence. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe accused was also charged with allegedly damaging the custody area of a garda van on the following day. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeThe accused was also charged with allegedly damaging the custody area of a garda van on the following day under Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Miriam Walsh refused jurisdiction in the District Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe case is expected to be sent back to the DPP to decide whether it should go to the Circuit Criminal Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtThe accused was remanded on continuing bail to December 12. (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Walsh refused jurisdiction, and the case is expected to be sent back to the DPP. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Oct2023
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Court hears man in the Midlands allegedly threatened to kill woman and her entire family before 'waving' chainsaw around

    Reports the District Court sitting in which Judge Miriam Walsh refused jurisdiction and remanded Kieran McNally on continuing bail to December 12.

    accused, Kieran McNally, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kieran McNallyvictim, female
  2. 10 Oct2023
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Longford man allegedly threatened to kill woman and her entire family before 'waving' chainsaw around, court hears

    Adds that the Longford District Court refused jurisdiction, the case is expected back with the DPP, and the accused was remanded on continuing bail to December 12. Also adds a second criminal damage charge over a garda van custody area on the following day, and the reported phone threats.

    victim, femaleaccused, Kieran McNally, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kieran McNally