Man who threatened to burn down partner's house is jailed

Niamh O’Donoghue

A man who threatened to burn down his partner’s house has been jailed for two years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Gerard Tier (34) of Casement Drive, Finglas, Dublin, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm on August 21st, 2021. Two other counts of possession of an explosive substance and a threat to kill or cause serious damage were taken into account.

A petrol bomb was found at the house, and Tier threatened to burn the house down, the court heard.

Garda Paul Higgins told the court Tier was extremely violent and resisted arrest. It took four gardai to restrain him. Tier started to headbutt the floor and said he would “make the place look like a murder scene”.

He said to gardaí, “I’ll have you killed” and that he’d gotten a garda sacked before.

While he was in hospital, he continued to be violent. He said he was drinking and made admissions to taking cocaine on the night, the court was told. “I’m coked off my head, I’m going to have a heart attack,” he told gardai.

Gardaí said there was a distinct smell of petrol when they entered the house. They found a bottle with petrol in it and a rag in the top - a Molotov cocktail as its also known.

When asked about the homemade bomb the following day, he denied ownership of it at the time.

The woman said she did not want him arrested as he was the father of her children, but she was in shock when she saw the Molotov cocktail.

Tier said he consumed eight cans of beer and drank foreign whiskey. An empty bottle of Seadog rum was used for the Molotov cocktail.

Justin McQuade BL defending, said his client was on disability benefits since he was the victim of a stabbing.

“I don’t know what General Molotov would say about this device,” said Mr McQuade. “Some people put sugar in them and it’s not to sweeten them,” he added.

He has 12 previous convictions, including one for robbery.

Judge Martin Nolan said Tier behaved very badly and noted it took four gardai to restrain him, his animus continued. He had taken certain substances. The incendiary device, although primitive, was very dangerous, the judge said.

“Possession of this device is a serious matter,” said the judge.

He said he had to impose a custodial sentence and jailed Tier for two years.