Dundalk court: Man rammed a motorist and returned to the scene with a chainsaw

A 43 year old man who rammed another motorist out of a pub car park onto a main road, returned to the scene with a chainsaw, and later threatened to have a witness shot if he didn’t withdraw his statement, has been jailed for three years at Dundalk Circuit Court.

Conor McLoughlin was sentenced for a series of offences including endangerment, and possessing an article with intent to cause injury or intimidate, assault causing harm and making a threat to kill or cause serious harm.

The victim of the first incident heard wheels spinning before his car was rammed from behind out of the car park of Howe’s bar, Knocknagoran, Omeath on December 22nd 2017, causing over four thousand euro in damage to the vehicle.

The defendant’s damaged car was subsequently seen parked at his home.

He later returned in a different car to the pub where he produced a chainsaw, causing others to retreat back inside the premises.

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Although the court was told there was no chain on the saw at the time.

Mr. McLoughlin was on bail for that incident, in August 2018, when he was involved in an assault on another young man, outside that victim’s home in Omeath, where he repeatedly kicked him on the ground, before his co-accused joined in.

In a third incident, Conor McLoughlin told a witness to the chainsaw incident, that he would have him shot if he didn’t withdraw his garda statement.

Judge Dara Hayes noted the defendant, who had 30 previous convictions,  has expressed his remorse and apologised to the victims, and has been drug-free for the best part of two years, and has engaged with AA and NA while in custody.

He imposed sentences totalling five years with the final two years suspended, to encourage his continued rehabilitation, and imposed a four year driving ban for driving uninsured.