Sunday 1 November 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. 4669Threats to kill · Co. Dublin · 15 May 2024

Man jailed for threats to kill in Dublin

Jamie Moonen, a 30-year-old man, was jailed for 13 months at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 6 November 2025 after pleading guilty to making a threat to a garda to kill or cause serious harm to another person. On the night of 15 May 2024, Moonen went to the offices of 62-year-old Dublin city councillor Malachy Steenson in North Strand, Dublin, and allegedly threatened to kill him. Gardaí arrested Moonen and initially charged him with public order offences, with the threat to kill still under investigation. Moonen later pleaded guilty to the threat charge and was sentenced to 13 months, reduced from a headline sentence of three years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged17 May
    2 reports
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced6 Nov
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man made threats to kill Dublin city councillor Malachy Steenson at his offices.
Where
The incident occurred outside Steenson's offices in North Strand, Dublin 3.
When
The incident occurred on the evening of Wednesday 15 May 2024.
Cause
Moonen allegedly told a garda he was going to kill Steenson because he was a racist and fascist, and said he got angry and wanted to confront Steenson on his policies.
Investigation
Gardaí in Mountjoy investigated the incident as a public order matter and arrested one man described as being in his late 20s, though the court identified him as 30.
Charges
  • Moonen was initially charged with public order offences for not cooperating with gardaí and was not charged in connection with the threat to kill.
  • Moonen was later charged with making a threat to a garda to kill or cause serious harm to another person on 15 May 2024.
In court
The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where Moonen pleaded guilty.
Sentence
The judge set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to 13 months taking mitigating factors into account.
Other details
  • Moonen has 12 previous convictions for public order offences and one for assault.
  • Moonen told gardaí he had been diagnosed with depression and fully admitted making the threats and apologised.
  • Steenson had not made a formal complaint to gardaí at the time of initial reporting.
49 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí are investigating claims of an alleged threat to kill European election candidate Malachy Steenson. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe accused made threats to kill Mr Steenson. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe accused told a garda he was going to go and kill Mr Steenson. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMan threatened to kill councillor Malachy Steenson during the 2024 election campaign. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened outside Steenson's offices in Dublin's North Strand. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe man came to Steenson's office in North Strand. (gript.ie)
  • whereThe accused went to the offices of Malachy Steenson, an Independent Dublin city councillor. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe man arrived at Steenson's offices and made threats to kill him. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe incident occurred on Wednesday 15 May 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenGardaí said the public order incident occurred on Wednesday evening in North Strand, Dublin 3. (gript.ie)
  • whenThe threats were made on the night of 15 May 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe threats were made on May 15 2024. (gript.ie)
  • causeRelatives said a man came to Steenson's door and threatened to kill him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe man reportedly told a garda he was going to kill Steenson because he was a racist and fascist. (gript.ie)
  • causeThe accused said he got angry and wanted to confront Mr Steenson on his policies. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeHe said he was going to kill Steenson because he was a racist and fascist. (gript.ie)
  • investigationGardaí in Mountjoy are investigating the incident as public order. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationOne man in his late 20s was arrested in relation to the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí say they are continuing to investigate the threat. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí said they are investigating an incident of public order. (gript.ie)
  • investigationOne man aged in his late 20s was arrested in relation to the incident. (gript.ie)
  • investigationGardaí believed the threat was credible and went to Mr Steenson's offices. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí arrested the accused. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí followed the man to the office. (gript.ie)
  • investigationGardaí believed the threat was credible. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe man was charged with separate public order offences after allegedly not cooperating with gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe man was not charged in connection with the alleged threat to kill Steenson. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe man has since been charged. (gript.ie)
  • chargeThe accused pleaded guilty to making a threat to a garda to kill or cause serious harm to another person on 15 May 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMoonen pleaded guilty to making a threat to a garda to kill or cause serious harm to another person. (gript.ie)
  • courtThe man was released pending a future court date. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe man is due to appear before a sitting of the Criminal Courts of Justice at a later date. (gript.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtGarda Darragh O’Connor gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (gript.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of three years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge reduced the sentence to 13 months, taking mitigating factors into account. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceMoonen was jailed for 13 months. (gript.ie)
  • otherSteenson had not made a formal complaint to gardaí at the time of reporting. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man allegedly banged on the office door and threatened the occupants. (gript.ie)
  • otherThe man allegedly shouted that he was there to kill Steenson. (gript.ie)
  • otherSteenson was canvassing nearby when he was told about the incident. (gript.ie)
  • otherGardaí quickly intervened after the alleged threats at the North Strand office. (gript.ie)
  • otherThe accused told gardaí he had been diagnosed with depression and needed help. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused has 12 previous convictions for public order offences and one for assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMr Steenson said his life had been threatened before in his political career and that he had increased his security. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMoonen had been diagnosed with depression. (gript.ie)
  • otherMoonen fully admitted making the threats and apologised. (gript.ie)
  • otherMoonen has 12 prior convictions for public order offences and one for assault. (gript.ie)
  • otherSteenson asked the judge to consider fully suspending any custodial sentence. (gript.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Nov2025
    Sentencedgript.ie, follow-up
    Man jailed for threats to kill Cllr Malachy Steenson - Gript

    Adds the sentence (13 months), the guilty plea, the Garda evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the stated motive, the prior convictions, the mental health diagnosis, and the victim's request for a fully suspended sentence.

    convicted, Jamie Moonen, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jamie Moonenvictim, Malachy Steenson, male, irish (judged from name)Malachy Steenson
  2. 6 Nov2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man who made threats to kill Dublin city councillor Malachy Steenson jailed for 13 months

    Sentencing report. Gives the sentence of 13 months, the headline sentence of three years, the guilty plea, the offender's previous convictions and the victim impact statement.

    convicted, Jamie Moonen, 30, male, namedJamie Moonenvictim, Malachy Steenson, 62, male, irish (judged from name)Malachy Steenson
  3. 17 May2024
    Chargedgript.ie, follow-up
    Man arrested after alleged threats to 'kill Malachy Steenson' at candidate's office - Gript

    Adds that the man reportedly came to the North Strand office, banged on the door and shouted he was there to kill Steenson, that he allegedly told a garda he was going to kill Steenson because he was a racist and fascist, and that Gardaí said he has been charged and is due at the Criminal Courts of Justice.

    victim, Malachy Steenson, irish (judged from name)Malachy Steensonaccused, late 20s, male
  4. 17 May2024
    Chargedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Gardai investigate claims of alleged threat to kill European election candidate

    Reports gardaí are investigating a claimed threat to kill candidate Malachy Steenson, who was not present. The man was arrested and charged with public order offences but not with the alleged threat. Gardaí are still investigating the threat claim, and Steenson says he has not yet made a formal complaint.

    victim, Malachy Steenson, male, irish (judged from name)Malachy Steensonaccused, late 20s, male