Mark Salmon, aged 33, with an address at Kilbarron Avenue in Kilmore, Dublin 5, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on Monday after pleading guilty to a number of charges including threats to kill and damage property, and a drug offence
15:54, 11 May 2026Updated 16:00, 11 May 2026
The Criminal Courts of Justice(Image: Colin Keegan/Collins)
A man was like a “demon” and caused a family “pure fear” when making threats to kill over a drug debt, a court has heard.
Mark Salmon, aged 33, with an address at Kilbarron Avenue in Kilmore, Dublin 5, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on Monday after pleading guilty to a number of charges including threats to kill and damage property, and a drug offence. The court heard evidence that he had made threats to a man that he would “murder” him, and “get two junkies to tie you down and rape you”.
He also contacted the same man’s mother about a 157,000 euro drug debt and said it would need to be sorted out or he would be dead, the court was told. Under questioning from Fiona Murphy SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Detective Sergeant Domhnall O’Connell outlined evidence of “drug-related intimidation”.
Discussing incidents between January and May 2024, he said that a man, who was around 26 at the time, had told his mother that he had got into trouble and owed money to Salmon, also known as “Fishy”. He had been “doing drops” to pay off the drug debt.
In a meeting with Salmon, the defendant told the man’s mother her son would be shot if the debt was not cleared. Mr O’Connell said she later told gardai that Salmon said he would get “junkies” to rape her son and that he would be driven over with a car and shot if he survived.
She later gave her phone to An Garda Siochana as part of an investigation. Mr O’Connell said she described Salmon as “like a demon” and said he had caused her “pure fear” over the threats.
Text messages read to the court by the garda showed Salmon making threats to “murder” the man. In a victim impact statement, the man’s mother said it had caused her depression, anxiety, loneliness and isolation – adding that he and his son had to leave the country.
The court also heard evidence relating to money found during searches of properties as well as luxury watches and designer bags. Mr O’Connell said Salmon’s passport had a Louis Vuitton cover.
He said an independent forensic accountant had analysed Revenue documentation as well as Mark Salmon’s current and credit card accounts, as well as details relating to loans and financial services agreements. He told the court that Salmon had unexplained income of 24,257 euro in 2022 and 60,556 euro in 2023.
Dominic McGinn SC, for Salmon, said he had offered explanations for 20,540 of the 2022 amount and 36,000 euro of the 2023 amount. However, Mr O’Connell said gardai did not accept any of the explanations offered.
Salmon, wearing a suit and coat, spoke with his solicitor a number of times during the hearing. Earlier, Mr O’Connell gave evidence relating to how another man, who cannot be named by order of the court, was stopped by gardai at a checkpoint in March 2024 and arrested on foot of a bench warrant.
When his car was searched, 504 grams of cocaine worth 35,280 euro was found. Mr O’Connell told the court that gardai had uncovered text messages and voice messages from Salmon to the driver about where to deliver the drugs.
The court heard the delivery ongoing at the time was to reduce a debt of 88,600 euro by 600 euro. The investigator also told the three-judge non-jury court about messages containing demands of payment sent to the man’s girlfriend as well as threats to the lives and property of his family.
The court was played voice messages sent by Salmon to the man’s girlfriend about how a home owned by the family could be damaged. He says people could “smash the place ” or “light the place on fire”, with him adding: “I don’t give a f***”.
He told the woman that if he was to get his hands on the man “there’ll be nothing left of him”, later saying that if he did not clear the debt “he’s going into a box”. The front window of the home and glass on a car parked at the residence were later smashed.
The court heard that gardai did not think Salmon was at the house but had organised it to happen. In a victim impact statement, the man’s mother said the incident was “deeply traumatic” for the family, had left her worried and afraid to leave her children in the home, and had driven her family apart over concerns for safety.
Mr McGinn said Salmon had left education after achieving his Leaving Certificate and had legitimate employment on an on-off basis for a number of years. He said the accused had entered guilty pleas and had written a “letter of apology” setting out “genuine remorse” in relation to the offences.
He said Salmon had committed to move away from criminality and become a responsible father for his two daughters. He is due to be sentenced on June 15.
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