Jamie O’Brien (30), of Blackberry Lane, Delgany, Greystones, Co Wicklow, appeared at a sitting of Bray District Court for the finalisation of his sentence.
Mr O’Brien pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage at Bray Courthouse on April 4, 2025. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to appear, failing to comply with a garda direction, and engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour at Glen Road, Delgany, on the same date.
The facts of the case were heard at an earlier sitting in September. The court heard that the defendant was observed running down the street holding a frying pan while shouting: “F**k off, gardaí.”
Sergeant Anthony Flynn, who has since retired, told the court that “it must have been breakfast gone wrong”.
A probation report was handed into court on the accused’s behalf.
Solicitor for the defence, Seán John O’Donovan, told the court that his client has been drug-free since entering custody. Mr O’Brien has provided clean urine samples but remains on prescribed methadone.
The court was told that the defendant is receiving psychological supports in prison and has linked in with BCAT (Bray Community Addiction Team), which supports individuals, families and communities affected by substance misuse. Mr O’Brien is also receiving counselling to help him cope after discovering his mother’s partner deceased.
It was further outlined that his grandmother is currently ill and that one of the offences arose from a family dispute.
The accused has since reconciled with his family.
Mr O’Brien has 39 previous convictions, including nine for burglary. The court heard that he previously served a six-year sentence and spent up to 23 hours a day on lockdown due to threats from other prisoners.
Mr O’Brien served six years for a separate sentence in relation to a break-in at the home of an elderly woman, for which he pleaded guilty to assault, false imprisonment and burglary.
It was outlined during his sentencing back in 2017 that the defendant and his co-accused knocked the pensioner to the ground, beat and kicked her repeatedly to the head and body.
Jamie O’Brien (30), of 1 Blackberry Lane, Delgany, Greystones, Co. Wicklow,
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Mr O’Donovan told the court that his client was feeling suicidal on the day of the failure-to-appear offence and appealed to Judge David Kennedy for leniency.
Mr O’Brien was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment on all charges, with the sentence backdated to August 12, 2025, when he entered custody
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