Longford man who threatened to rape Garda's family is jailed

A man who threatened to burn down the house of a Garda while his wife and kids were inside and to rape the Garda’s wife and kids, has been sentenced to 26 months in prison with the final eight months suspended for the section 3 assault of that Garda.

Sean Taaffe (31), with an address at St Matthew’s Park, Ballymahon, Co Longford, was previously jailed in the District Court for similar offences towards the same Garda in 2021 and is currently serving a 16 month sentence following a District Court appeal.

Judge Kenneth Connolly of Longford Circuit Court heard evidence of how Gardaí were called to a public order incident in Lanesboro, following the theft of a pack of cigarettes in a local shop.

Sergeant Philip O’Byrne of Roscommon Garda station described how an interaction on March 5, 2023, between attending Garda Keith O’Brien and Mr Taaffe escalated from public order to very personal threats to the Garda and his family, to section 3 assault.

When he saw Garda O’Brien, Mr Taaffe shouted: “You, you b*stard, you got me locked up for 18 months”, referring to his previous convictions for threats towards Garda O’Brien.

Mr Taaffe then made threats such as “I’ll burn your house to the ground with your wife and kids in it”, “I will rape your wife and kids” and “I will burn Ballymahon Garda Station with you in it”.

While in the custody of a Garda vehicle, Mr Taaffe attempted to bite Garda O’Brien on the hand and stated he would bite the Garda on the neck. He also spat on the floor of the vehicle and headbutted Garda O’Brien, causing him headaches which lasted 24 hours.

When questioned by Gardaí once he had sobered up, Mr Taaffe explained that he had been drinking since the previous evening and had consumed two bottles of whiskey and “injected coke”.

When he was declared fit for interview by a doctor, he spoke freely with two Gardaí and said he couldn’t remember any of the altercation with Garda O’Brien. He asked if the Garda was alright and said, “I’m a scumbag when I’m drinking - a pure tramp. I’m disgusted with myself.”

Garda O’Brien, when delivering a victim impact statement, said his wife was anxious after the incident and questioned whether or not Mr Taaffe would be capable of carrying out his threats to her and her family.

He said this was the second time he’d had an altercation of this nature with Mr Taaffe and that, while his wife was also a member of An Garda Síochána and had “a thick skin”, she took the threats very seriously.

“I feel the incident genuinely affected her,” he said.

He explained that he will likely interact with Mr Taaffe again in the course of his duties and that he is concerned that Mr Taaffe would be able to find out where he lives.

“He’s a very troubled individual,” said Garda O’Brien, adding that Mr Taaffe needs to be aware that “I didn’t choose to be at his side on those occasions”, but that the accused chose that himself through his actions.

“He needs to accept his mistakes are what led to him being arrested and leave my family out of it,” he said.

Mr Taaffe became emotional when he took to the witness box to read an apology letter.

“I’d like to apologise to Keith O’Brien and his wife,” he said, stating that he turned to drink and drugs when his children moved to England in January 2021.

He explained that the children returned to Ireland in July 2023, and that it made him “so happy as a father”. He also met a girl in August 2023, with whom he hopes to build a future.

“For my family, my kids and the girl I love, I’m sorry for the pain you all feel,” he said, before promising that he will do “as many programmes as possible” in Castlerea.

Judge Connolly, having heard the evidence, said that the threats made to Garda O’Brien were “absolutely vile and repugnant in nature” and “utterly unforgivable”.

He noted that a large number of Mr Taaffe’s previous convictions took place before his children moved to England and that his actions could therefore not be attributed to that.

He said his “greatest regret” is that he is limited to sentencing Mr Taaffe for the section 3 assault only, and not the other charges, due to a guilty plea being entered to the section 3 on a full facts basis, with the state deciding not to proceed with prosecution on the other charges.

“Section 3 assault is very serious, with a maximum tariff of five years in prison,” said Judge Connolly, “but in this court’s view, a section 3 assault on a member of An Garda Síochána is even more serious.

“Gardaí don’t have a choice, they have to deal with whatever arises and they should receive the utmost respect for that.”

Referring to Mr Taaffe’s apology, Judge Connolly said he did not want to be “mean-spirited”, but “I have to say, it sounded more of a self-focused remorse rather than an apology to Garda O’Brien”. He did, however, acknowledge that there was some expression of remorse.

Taking all offences into consideration, he proceeded to sentence Mr Taaffe to 26 months in prison, suspending the final eight months on a number of conditions, including that he abstain from all alcohol and drugs, and submit himself to the supervision of a probation officer for one year post-release.