The incident happened during an online meeting for young people with Special Educational Needs.

Records released under freedom of information laws suggest that drugs are regularly being openly abused on train services, with children even observed smoking cannabis on the Dart in January of last year.

Judge Nolan said it was probably unlikely that Russell would reoffend and noted that he had been under stress at the time.

Keith McDonnell (34) of Back Lane, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to two counts of making threats to kill or cause serious harm to two members of An Garda Síochána on May 12th 2020.

McClean (78) of Casimir Avenue, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6, is already serving an eight-year sentence handed down in 2021 for abusing 23 pupils at the south Dublin school.