Man who threatened Irish Water workers with fake gun avoids jail

A man who threatened Irish Water workers with a realistic imitation handgun tucked into his tracksuit bottoms has received a two and half year suspended sentence.

Dean Moran (27) pulled up his top to reveal the realistic model weapon and told the workers: "If you come near my house you will get this."

Moran, of Emmet Square, Blackrock, Co Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a realistic imitation firearm in Blackrock on September 23rd, 2014.

The court heard Moran had woken up following a night shift as a security guard to find plastic barriers against his car. His home was later searched by armed gardaí and the item was found to be a lighter.

Judge Martin Nolan had remanded Moran in custody on Monday after hearing evidence in the case.

On Wednesday, Judge Nolan said Moran behaved extremely irresponsibly and badly as the men were going about their lawful work. He said he had no doubt that Moran intended to frighten the workers and “he succeeded in doing this”.

The judge said he had decided not to imprison Moran “principally because of his plea of guilty” but he added it was “a close run thing” .

He suspended the two and half year term and gave Moran 12 months to raise €1,000 for a charity chosen by the investigating garda, Garda Gordon Woulfe.