A Buncrana coal merchant who made a threat to a Donegal County Council official has been told to come up with compensation.
Patrick Doherty appeared before Letterkenny District Court over the incident, which occurred after the accused man was taken to task for carrying bags of smokey coal on March 7, 2023.
A 32-year-old of Crana View, Buncrana, Doherty was charged with intimidation of a witness at Letterkenny Shopping Centre Car Park, Letterkenny.
The man’s solicitor, Mr Ciaran Mac Lochlainn, told the court that his client was charged with threatening behaviour. Doherty was stopped by the Donegal County Council inspector and prosecuted for having bags of smokey coal on the back of the lorry.
Mr Mac Lochlainn said his client engaged in “inappropriate banter” and the witness felt threatened.
Mr Mac Lochlainn outlined: “He was asked: ‘Are you threatening me?’. And my client said: ‘No, but I know a man who will. Wait ’til my solicitor, Ciaran Mac Lochlainn, gets his hands on you”.
A victim impact statement was handed into the court on behalf of the Donegal County Council employee.
Mr Mac Lochlainn told Judge Éiteáin Cunningham that the prosecution in relation to the smoky coal was dismissed by another Judge.
“The witness obviously did not appreciate what was going on,” Mr Mac Lochlainn said. “It was inappropriate. It was an encounter that should have been avoided.”
Judge Cunningham said she would adjourn the matter for a couple of months so the issue of compensation could be canvassed.
Mr Mac Lochlainn asked if €500 would be an appropriate amount and Judge Cunningham said she believed that, given the contents of the victim impact statement, at least €1,000 should be offered.
The case was adjourned until July 1, 2025.