Ireland Man charged with threatening to kill TD's partner in Tallaght
On 23 May 2023 in Tallaght, Dublin, Joseph Cloherty, a 42-year-old man of no fixed address, is alleged to have threatened People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy that he would kill or cause serious harm to Murphy's partner, Jessica Spear, a People Before Profit councillor for Tallaght Central. The alleged threat was made while Murphy was canvassing about abortion laws, and one report places it at his stall at Belgard Square. Gardaí sent a file to the DPP, who directed summary disposal at District Court level, and Cloherty was charged under Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. On 17 January 2025 he appeared at Dublin District Court, where he contests the allegation and is representing himself, and the judge took it that he was pleading not guilty. The latest development is that he was remanded on bail to appear again on 10 February 2025 to set a hearing date.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court17 Jan
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Joseph Cloherty is accused of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Jessica Spear, Paul Murphy's partner.
- It is alleged that a man walked up to TD Paul Murphy and threatened to slit his partner's throat, one report says.
- Where
- The incident is said to have taken place in Tallaght, where Murphy was canvassing, and one report places it at his stall at Belgard Square.
- When
- The incident is said to have taken place on 23 May 2023.
- Cause
- The alleged threat was made while Murphy was canvassing with leaflets about abortion laws.
- Other details
- Jessica Spear is a People Before Profit councillor for Tallaght Central.
- Investigation
- Gardaí submitted a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who directed summary disposal at District Court level.
- Gardaí have taken statements from Jessica Spear and Paul Murphy.
- Charges
- Cloherty was charged under Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act with making a threat intended to be believed.
- In court
- Cloherty, representing himself, contests the allegation and disputed the evidence at Dublin District Court on 17 January 2025.
- Jurisdiction was accepted for the case to be heard in the District Court rather than the Circuit Court.
- The judge took it that he was pleading not guilty and remanded him on bail to appear again on 10 February 2025 to set a hearing date.
- Sentence
- If convicted, the charge can carry a fine, up to 12 months in the District Court, or up to 10 years in the Circuit Court.
25 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man walked up to Paul Murphy and threatened to harm his partner. (rte.ie)
- whatThe threat named Jessica Spear as the person who would be seriously harmed. (rte.ie)
- whatA man approached TD Paul Murphy and threatened to slit his partner's throat. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe incident took place in Tallaght while the TD was there. (rte.ie)
- wherePaul Murphy had set up a stall at Belgard Square. (rte.ie)
- whereThe incident took place in Tallaght, where TD Paul Murphy was canvassing. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe incident is said to have taken place on 23 May 2023. (rte.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on 23 May 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí submitted a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who directed summary disposal at District Court level. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí have taken statements from Jessica Spear and Paul Murphy. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí sent a file to the DPP, who directed summary disposal at District Court level. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeJoseph Cloherty appeared at Dublin District Court on a charge under Section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. (rte.ie)
- chargeIt is alleged that Cloherty made a threat to Paul Murphy intending him to believe it would be carried out, namely that he would kill or cause serious harm to his partner. (rte.ie)
- chargeCloherty was charged under section 5 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe is accused of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Jessica Spear. (thejournal.ie)
- courtCloherty contests the allegation. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- courtCloherty, representing himself, disputed the evidence. (rte.ie)
- courtJurisdiction was accepted for the case to be heard in the District Court rather than the Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge took it that he was pleading not guilty and remanded him on bail to 10 February to set a hearing date. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case will be heard in the District Court, not the Circuit Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtHe was remanded on bail to appear again on 10 February to set a hearing date. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceIf convicted, the charge can carry a fine, up to 12 months in the District Court, or up to 10 years in the Circuit Court. (thejournal.ie)
- otherPaul Murphy was canvassing with leaflets about a pro-abortion bill when the threat was allegedly made. (rte.ie)
- otherJessica Spear is a People Before Profit councillor for Tallaght Central. (rte.ie)
- otherThe threat was made while Murphy was canvassing about abortion laws. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Jan2025Man accused of threatening to cut throat of Paul Murphy's partner Jess Spear as he canvassed
First report of the case: details of the charge, the accused's plea, the DPP's direction for summary disposal, and the bail remand to 10 February 2025.
accused, Joseph Cloherty, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Clohertyvictim, Paul Murphy, male, irish (judged from name)Paul Murphyvictim, Jessica Spear, female, irish (judged from name)Jessica Spear - 17 Jan2025Man accused of threatening to cut throat of TD's partner
First report of the District Court hearing, where the garda evidence was outlined, the accused disputed it, and he was remanded on bail to 10 February to set a hearing date. Summary disposal at District Court level was directed by the DPP.
accused, Joseph Cloherty, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Clohertyvictim, Paul Murphy, male, irish (judged from name)Paul Murphyvictim, Jessica Spear, female, irish (judged from name)Jessica Spear