Longford senator's family upset by distasteful threats

David Larkin (41) of 33 Ard Na Cassa Lawns, Longford harassed Ballinalee based Senator Micheál Carrigy by text message, voicemail and on social media platform Facebook.

Mr Larkin pleaded guilty to harassing Senator Carrigy on dates between December 20, 2021 and February 14, 2022 contrary to Section 10 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Giving evidence to District Court Judge Bernadette Owens, prosecution witness Sergeant Paul Kearney took to the witness box outlining details of his investigation. Sgt Kearney said Senator Carrigy contacted the Garda about a text message he received on December 20, 2021 from a mobile phone number he did not know.

The message was one of seven texts to the politician's phone. Sgt Kearney submitted a list of the text messages to the court. The “obscure” communications were read into the record.

They included the brief texts: “You are going to the train station, there will be no mercy”, “All you scumbag politicians will be going to the train station” and “Happy sh*t yourself day”.

More extended messages were: “All you scumbag politicians scrambling for the door, now that Boris has shit himself and caved into the people before he’s f**ked out of office and publicly hanged for his crimes. That’s what you have to look forward to bro. You’re going down just like the rest of the scum. Don’t think you’ll escape Micheal, your time is soon up, enjoy it.”

Another the defendant sent said: “We the people will bring you to justice. It's going to be slow and it's going to be brutal. Your children will be sterilised and there will be no legacy left from you. You're a f**king scumbag and you know it.”

Another sent during the pandemic said: “The mothers, the fathers, they ain't gonna wait for no international court case.

"They're just gonna ram your front door and tear all you politicians apart in your house. That's what you have to look forward to. Could be next week, could be next year but it's coming my friend and no amount of security will save ya then. Happy shit yourself Sunday.”

Details of a further five Facebook posts made via a falsely named profile were also submitted. The messages contained mentions of “going to the train station bucko” and another saying “No mercy for you Micheál”.

Sgt Kearney said when Mr Larkin was interviewed under caution he made full admissions about posting the online messages and sending the voice and text messages. Solicitor Frank Gearty said his client accepted that his messages were “extremely distasteful” particularly what was perceived as “threat's to Senator Carrigy's children”.

Mr Larkin has cooperated fully with Probation Services since the matter first came before the court and has not re-offended. Mr Gearty said the defendant has given a public apology to the injured party.

“He understands what he did was wrong,” Mr Gearty said.

The court was told the 42 year old single man lives at home with his mother. He is originally from Dublin, but now lives in Longford. Although he previously ran a food business it closed in 2019.

Mr Gearty said: “He was erroneously worried about the effect of the vaccine. It was his belief that it was dangerous. He knows he went way beyond the line. His actions were those of a 'keyboard type warrior'. He has moved on greatly from the dark days when he composed these messages.”

Judge Owens said: “Mr Larkin is a lot calmer and more composed than when he came before the court on July 12.”

The judge asked the prosecution to canvas if Senator Carrigy would be amenable to restorative justice. This is to provide an opportunity for those harmed and those who take responsibility for the harm to communicate about and address their needs in the aftermath of a crime.

Senator Carrigy said he did not wish to participate in restorative justice, but asked for the opportunity to address the court directly.

Reading from his victim impact statement he said: “I am very proud of where I come from and that my children will grow up in my home county but at the very least, they should be able to grow up safely without having to deal with threats to their lives.”

He said in late 2021 he and others noticed a number of comments on Facebook with a common theme referring to “going to the train station”: “I felt that someone was watching my office as it is located beside the train station in town.

“In early 2022 I received a text informing me that no amount of security at my home would stop them from getting in. I contacted Granard Gardaí to highlight my concerns and put them on the record,” he told the court.

Senator Carrigy continued: “A line had been crossed as far as I was concerned. It was at this stage that I told my wife to make her aware of the messages. A number of weeks later I received a voice message on my phone threatening to sterilise my children which upset both of us greatly.

“I believed that all messages, text, and voicemail were the same person. I contacted Sgt Kearney who acted swiftly to obtain the information necessary to identify the person involved and subsequently arrest him.”

He spoke of the pressure it put on his family and questioned if he should continue in politics: “We should not have the burden of having to worry about our children when they are in their own home, school or at other activities. I asked, "Is it my role and profile that is putting my family at risk?”"

Noting the Probation Report's assessment that Mr Larkin was a “low risk of reoffending” Judge Owens said she would give the defendant the opportunity to continue his engagement with the Probation Service.

She remanded him on continuing bail to appear before Longford District court on May 9, 2023.