Alan Walsh (35), of Seaview Heights, Rathnew, Co Wicklow, appeared at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to threatening to kill, producing an article to cause harm and possession of drugs for sale or supply.
Detective Garda Liam Flynn gave evidence that on November 11, 2024, gardaí received a report that a man had threatened two people.
Gardaí attended the scene where they met the complainant and his friend, who said the accused came out of his home swinging a baseball bat while they were removing a car using a tow truck, before returning armed with two knives.
Counsel for the prosecution, James Kelly, told the court that Mr Walsh was highly intoxicated and became annoyed by the noise of the truck.
Two knives were later seized in the garden of the defendant. Mr Kelly described them as being of the “kitchen variety”.
The court also heard that on June 19, 2024, at South Quay in Wicklow town, Mr Walsh was found in an intoxicated state and, when approached by gardaí, was found in possession of 13 grams of a yellow powdered substance.
Mr Walsh has 11 previous convictions, including offences relating to firearms and criminal damage, and was previously sentenced in 2020 at Wexford Circuit Court, following a serious and sustained assault on his then partner.
The court heard back in 2020, that Mr Walsh subjected the injured party to a prolonged and violent ordeal over a number of hours, during which she was dragged around their home, repeatedly punched and had her head struck off a wall multiple times.
She was threatened that she would not leave the apartment alive and, at one stage, considered jumping from a window to escape.
Alan Walsh (35), of Seaview Heights, Rathnew, Co Wicklow
News in 90 Seconds – May 11th 2026
During the attack, Mr Walsh used a broken bottle to slash her face, causing a deep laceration that resulted in permanent scarring. He also pressed a wet towel against her face, depriving her of air.
The injured party was left with both physical and psychological injuries, including lasting anxiety and the need for ongoing counselling.
During cross-examination, counsel for the accused, Edmund Sweetman, said his client had previously jumped from a window of the Parkview Hotel, suffering a broken leg and back injuries.
Mr Sweetman said Mr Walsh has not come to garda attention since his last conviction and is willing to provide €1,000 in compensation.
He added that, while the probation report before the court was negative, a letter from Merchants Quay Ireland presented a very different picture of the accused.
The court was told Mr Walsh has a 17-year-old son and, when asked how he would feel if his son behaved in such a way, he said he would be “shocked and horrified”. Mr Sweetman said his client has been sober for six months.
In her judgment, Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin said the letter from Merchants Quay Ireland and the probation report were “polar opposites”.
She told Mr Walsh that the Probation Service is there to support offenders and is “not the enemy”, and that he must “put his head down, engage and make a positive change”.
The judge added that “going around with baseball bats and knives is just not on”. Judge Ní Chúlacháin adjourned the matter to allow Mr Walsh further time to engage with the Probation Service and relevant supports.
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