A STAFF member at St Vincent’s hostel in Cork was threatened by a resident to “go back to your own country” and during one incident the resident threatened to kill him and gestured into a security camera as if he was firing a rifle.

Darren Foley, aged 48, of Deerpark, Friars Walk, Cork, was sentenced by Judge Olann Kelleher to nine months in prison at Cork District Court.

Impact 

Judge Kelleher said the victim indicated in an impact statement that Foley told him he would follow him home and kill him.

The victim said that he did not experience fear during 10 years working in security but that since this incident he had experienced a lot of fear.

“I have been overly cautious when I go out. I suffer anxiety. I suffer panic attacks. 

I am afraid to work in shops in case he would come into the shop,” said the victim in his statement, part of which was read out by Judge Kelleher at Cork District Court.

Incident 

Sergeant John Kelleher described what happened at St Vincent’s hostel on Anglesea Terrace, Cork, on May 8, 2020, at a time when Foley was resident there.

At 2.40am, the security officer heard shouting from the first-floor room where the defendant was staying. He told the defendant to quieten down in the interests of other residents.

“Shortly afterwards, the defendant walked along a corridor at the hostel, stood in front of a security camera, dropped his trousers showing his bare backside, held up his middle finger, gestured like he was aiming a rifle at the camera,” said Sergeant Kelleher.

When gardaí arrived he told them he had paid for the week. He told them to f*** off and added, “if you want me, come in and get me”.

He then put his locker against the door and held it against the garda attempts to enter the room. When they got in he grabbed a stick and tussled with Garda Kevin O’Neill.

The security man told gardaí that Foley had told him, “I am going to f***ing kill you. F*** off back to your own country. This is my country”. 

He then went on to make other death threats to him.

Solicitor Frank Buttimer emphasised the fact that this dated back to May two years ago. He said that the accused had benefitted from the assistance of St Vincent’s hostel and he knew the importance of the facility.

“He had serious problems with multiple substance addictions,” said Mr Buttimer. 

“He had a problem with rules and regulations. The injured party indicated Mr Foley was not welcome and could not continue in his intoxicated state when he had a very damaged state of mind.

“It does not excuse it. It might explain it or put it in context. 

"He did apologise to the injured party. He [the defendant] was told if he could toe the line he could come back but he did not.

“He served a lengthy term of imprisonment and he had plenty of time to be thinking about what led him to that.

“He remains sober to this day. He has secured services of rehabilitation. He is permanently accommodated in Deer-park. He has stabilised completely.

“He has secured employment in construction working two days a week and I believe further full-time employment will be available. He is also in a relationship now with a very supportive person.

“He has read the victim impact statement. He accepts without hesitation all the things said are true. There has not been any contact with the injured party since. He apologised [immediately afterwards].

“It would be regrettable, although understandable, if he was to end up in custody after turning his life around in the last two years,” Mr Buttimer submitted in advance of the sentence being imposed for making the threat to kill the security man.