AN RTÉ journalist told a court yesterday he was put in “fear of his life” by a man who threatened to stab him after he apprehended a suspected burglar outside his home.
Fergal Keane, a reporter on Drivetimeon RTÉ Radio One, was giving evidence in the trial of Miley Connors at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mr Connors (40), Glenshane Lawns, Tallaght, has pleaded not guilty to burglary, threatening to kill or cause serious harm and producing rocks with the intention of intimidating Keane at Monkstown Avenue, Monkstown, on November 25th, 2007.
Keane said the man threatened him and threw a rock at him, before a number of rocks were thrown at his car, which was stopped just outside his house.
His three children, aged between five and 11 at the time, were sitting in his car with his wife and he told the jury he could hear the youngsters “screaming in terror”.
Keane’s wife, Tara Buckley, told the court there were “tears streaming down my nine-year-old’s face” and she was “very nervous for my children” while the rocks were being thrown at the car.
Keane told Vincent Heneghan, prosecuting, he was “very conscious” to get a good look at the man who threatened him. “ I told him ‘I see you’,” Keane said.
He told Mr Heneghan he had “no doubt” looking at this man’s demeanour that he would stab him. “I was in fear of my life. That is the only reason I did not confront him,” Keane said.
Keane told Mr Heneghan that he, his wife and children had returned home at 7.10pm, when he spotted a man trying to duck in behind his gates.
He stopped the car, got out and saw two other men standing in his garden. He asked them what they were doing there and they replied they were “playing hide and seek”.
Keane said he then saw the first man run out from behind the gate and around the side of his car so he chased after him and grabbed him.
He said the man was holding a paper shopping bag, which then tore or fell to the ground, and a PlayStation, games and DVDs that he identified as coming from his home spilled out.
Keane said he was was hoping the other two men would run off and he could call the Garda. He had a hold of this first man’s arm and the back of his neck. He then saw a fourth man coming from across a green area close to his home.
Keane said this man told him to let go of the youth. He partly let go of this first man who then turned around, punched him in the face and ran away.
He told Mr Heneghan the fourth man had one hand in his pocket and a rock in his other hand.
Keane said this man then told him “I’ll stab you”, before he threw a rock at him and moved back. Stones then started to come at him and he had to take cover behind his car.
He agreed with Garnet Orange, defending, that it was dark that night but later added that “visibility was excellent”.
The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of six women and six men.