TWO BROTHERS of deceased Limerick criminal Philip Collopy threatened to kill a man they believed had money belonging to their late brother, a court has heard.
Kieran Collopy (35) and Damien Collopy (21), St Ita’s Street, St Mary’s Park, Limerick, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Willie Moran, St Senan’s Street, St Mary’s Park, Limerick, on April 14th last year.
At their sentencing hearing yesterday, Limerick Circuit Court heard that Mr Moran and his family are under 24-hour Garda protection and have moved from their family home.
Prosecution counsel John O’Sullivan said the defendants believed Mr Moran had money belonging to their late brother Philip Collopy (29), who died after he accidentally shot himself in the head in March 2009. He said they believed Mr Moran owed them money arising out of matters involving the late Phillip Collopy and horses he owned. Mr Moran denied this.
The court heard that Kieran Collopy approached Mr Moran at his home at 9pm on April 14th, 2010, shouting about wanting Philip’s money back. Kieran Collopy warned him he better have “four or five grand by the end of the night” and shouted “I hope you are prepared to die” before striking Mr Moran in the jaw.
Mr Collopy later returned to the house with his brother Damien who threatened to put a bullet in Mr Moran’s head.
Lawyers for the brothers said their clients wished to apologise for what happened and that they bore no ill will towards Mr Moran. Judge Carroll Moran described the case as a “serious matter” and adjourned sentencing until tomorrow.