Case No. 2000Making a threat to kill or cause harm · Co. Dublin · 16 Jul 2024
Richard McGreevy jailed for TikTok threats to kill Mary Lou McDonald and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris
Richard McGreevy, 29, of Whitechurch Place, Rathfarmham, Co Dublin, posted videos on TikTok on 16 July 2024 in which he threatened to kill or harm Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. The videos were viewed thousands of times and reposted to Facebook and X. He pleaded guilty to two counts of making a threat to kill or cause harm at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Nolan, who described the offences as a significant breach of trust. Neither victim was present at the sentencing, and Commissioner Harris declined to provide a victim impact statement. Judge Nolan imposed a prison sentence with part of the term suspended on strict conditions.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced26 Mar
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Richard McGreevy posted videos on TikTok in which he threatened to kill or harm Mary Lou McDonald and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
- The videos were viewed thousands of times and reposted to Facebook and X.
- Where
- McGreevy is from Whitechurch Place, Rathfarmham, Co Dublin.
- When
- The threatening videos were posted on TikTok on 16 July 2024.
- Charges
- McGreevy pleaded guilty to two counts of making a threat to kill or cause harm.
- In court
- The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Nolan.
- Judge Nolan said the offences represented a significant breach of trust.
- The Sinn Féin leader and the Garda Commissioner were not in court during the sentence hearing.
- Other details
- Commissioner Harris declined to provide a victim impact statement.
- McGreevy had been using cannabis since he was a teenager but was drug-free since going into custody.
- McGreevy has an acquired brain injury and suffered physical abuse as a child at the hands of a relative.
- Sentence
- Judge Nolan imposed a three-and-a-half year prison sentence with the final 15 months suspended, or a three-year term with the final year suspended on strict conditions including engaging with the Probation Service for a year.
22 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe accused showed the child two separate pornographic videos at his house. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused suggested to the child that he should masturbate. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe child received an Instagram message from the accused referencing an erection and calling a girl a slut. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRichard McGreevy, 29, is from Whitechurch Place, Rathfarmham, Co Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe videos were viewed thousands of times and reposted to Facebook and X (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcGreevy had been using cannabis since he was a teenager but was drug-free since going into custody (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcGreevy has an acquired brain injury and suffered physical abuse as a child at the hands of a relative (irishtimes.com)
- whatCommissioner Harris declined to provide a victim impact statement (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred on dates in May 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe threatening videos were posted on TikTok on 16 July 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to two counts of making a threat to kill or cause harm (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Martin Nolan said the offences represented a significant breach of trust. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Nolan (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Sinn Féin leader and the Garda Commissioner were not in court during the sentence hearing (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Martin Nolan suspended the final year of a three-year jail term on strict conditions including engaging with the Probation Service for a year. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Nolan imposed a three-and-a-half year prison sentence with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused was 22 when he began engaging in inappropriate communications with the victim. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man later moved out of Ireland. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man is currently serving a sentence for a similar offence and possession of child abuse material in a different jurisdiction. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man is assessed at high risk of re-offending against children. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man replied to the victim's mother with the text 'message received, have a good life'. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 26 Mar2025Man jailed for posting online threats against Mary Lou McDonald and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris
Sentencing hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court with victim impact statements from Mary Lou McDonald; Judge Nolan imposed three-and-a-half year term with 15 months suspended.
convicted, Richard McGreevy, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Richard McGreevyvictim, Mary Lou McDonald, female, irish (judged from name)Mary Lou McDonaldvictim, Drew Harris, male, irish (judged from name)Drew Harris - 26 Mar2025Dublin man who got his 10-year-old cousin to watch pornography is jailed
Sentencing report: man jailed for three years (final year suspended) for sexual offences against his 10-year-old second cousin committed in May 2018; he is also serving a sentence for a similar offence in a different jurisdiction.
victim, 10, maleconvicted, 30, male, irish (judged from name)