Ireland Man convicted of threatening to blow up Limerick social worker's home, awaiting sentence
Stephen Grace, aged 34, with an address in County Galway, was convicted by a jury in January 2026 of threatening to blow up the house of a woman in her late 20s, a Limerick social worker, and to kill her. The threats followed a phone call on 31 May 2022 in which he asked about two people in the care system; the social worker said the information could not be disclosed, and the sources differ on whether he became aggressive. Grace was arrested on 16 July 2022, admitted making the call, and denied being aggressive or making threats. Judge Colin Daly remanded him in custody at Limerick Circuit Court until 15 April 2026, when sentence will be imposed, after a probation report recommended rehabilitation or alternatively a suspended prison sentence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted26 Mar
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A Limerick social worker, a woman in her late 20s, received a threatening phone call from a member of a family she was working with.
- Stephen Grace, aged 34, with an address in County Galway, was convicted by a jury in January 2026.
- When
- The phone call took place on 31 May 2022.
- Cause
- Grace asked about two individuals in the care system, and the social worker said the information could not be disclosed.
- The social worker says Grace became aggressive, while Grace denied being aggressive.
- Investigation
- Grace was arrested on 16 July 2022 and admitted the call took place.
- Charges
- Grace was convicted of threatening to blow up the woman's house and to kill her during a heated exchange.
- In court
- Judge Colin Daly remanded Grace in custody at Limerick Circuit Court until 15 April 2026, when sentence will be imposed.
- Sentence
- A probation report recommended rehabilitation or alternatively a suspended prison sentence; no sentence has yet been imposed.
- Other details
- The social worker was left in fear and constantly monitoring her surroundings, according to the court.
- The court was told Grace has 121 previous convictions.
- The defence said the words were spoken in the heat of the moment and were not credible threats.
10 statements extracted from the articles
- whatStephen Grace was convicted by a jury in January of this year. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe social worker told him the information he sought could not be disclosed, and he became aggressive. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe phone call took place on 31 May 2022. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationGrace was arrested on 16 July 2022 and admitted the call took place but denied being aggressive or making threats. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeHe was convicted of threatening to blow up the woman's house and to kill her. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtJudge Colin Daly remanded Grace in custody until 15 April, when sentence will be imposed. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceA probation report recommended rehabilitation, or alternatively a suspended prison sentence. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe social worker was left in fear and constantly monitoring her surroundings. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe court was told Grace has 121 previous convictions. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe defence said the words were spoken in the heat of the moment and were not credible threats. (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 26 Mar2026Limerick man to be sentenced after threatening to 'blow up' home of Tusla social worker
Court report on the conviction, adding the victim impact statement, the defendant's prior convictions, probation recommendations, the defence submissions and the remand date for sentencing.
convicted, Stephen Grace, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Gracevictim, late 20s, female