Ireland Prisoner sentenced for threatening prison officer with sharpened metal at Wheatfield Prison
Daniel McDonnell, 28, a man serving a mandatory life sentence for murder, was arrested in January after threatening to slit a prison officer's throat with a sharpened piece of metal during a routine cell check at Wheatfield Prison, Clondalkin, on 12 August 2021. He pleaded guilty on 2 May to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the officer. On 8 June 2023, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court set a headline sentence of three years, reduced it to two years and backdated it to his guilty plea. The two-year sentence is the latest development reported.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced8 Jun
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- McDonnell threatened to slit a prison officer's throat during a routine cell check.
- Where
- The threat happened at Wheatfield Prison, Cloverhill Road, Clondalkin.
- When
- The threat happened on 12 August 2021.
- Cause
- The prison officer was carrying out checks and observations on prisoners when the threat was made.
- Weapon
- The weapon was a sharpened piece of metal.
- Other details
- McDonnell said: 'See this? I'll slit your throat with this. If I can't do it, I'll get someone on the outside to do it.'
- The prison officer reported the matter and said he was shocked, worried and concerned over the threat.
- McDonnell is serving a mandatory life sentence for a murder committed when he was 17.
- Investigation
- McDonnell was arrested the following January.
- Charges
- McDonnell pleaded guilty on 2 May to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to a prison officer.
- In court
- The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
- Sentence
- The judge set a headline sentence of three years, reduced it to two years and backdated it to the date of his guilty plea.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMcDonnell threatened to slit the prison officer's throat during a routine cell check. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe threat happened at Wheatfield Prison, Cloverhill Road, Clondalkin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe threat happened on 12 August 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe prison officer was carrying out checks and observations on prisoners when the threat was made. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe weapon was a sharpened piece of metal. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationMcDonnell was arrested the following January. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeMcDonnell pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to a prison officer. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of three years, reduced it to two years and backdated it to the date of his guilty plea. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcDonnell said: 'See this? I'll slit your throat with this.' (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe prison officer reported the matter and said he was shocked, worried and concerned over the threat. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMcDonnell is serving a mandatory life sentence for a murder committed when he was 17. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 8 Jun2023Further sentence of murderer who threatened to slit prison officer's throat
Reports the sentencing in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court: a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and backdated to the date McDonnell pleaded guilty, May 2. Gives the threat wording, the weapon and the background that McDonnell was serving a life sentence for murder.
convicted, Daniel McDonnell, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel McDonnellvictim