Armed police deployed to house in Magherafelt after threatening 999 call

An armed police response unit was tasked to a Magherafelt man’s address after he made threatening 999 calls, the local Magistrates Court was told.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Nov 2015, 10:51 BST
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PSNI

The court heard Stephen O’Boyle (46) from Sperrin Drive, threatened in repeated calls to the emergency number to kill the first person to come through the door as his father had been killed and he was going to kill someone in return.

O’Boyle admitted improper use of a communications network, causing needless anxiety on September 13 this year.

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A prosecuting lawyer said that unit arrested the defendant but were unsuccessful in locating a hatchet.

Magherafelt Courthouse.Magherafelt Courthouse.
Magherafelt Courthouse.

She said O’Boyle denied making threatening calls, and told police he had stopped taking his medication so that he could consume alcohol that night.

A defence solicitor explained the defendant had mental health and alcohol issues which he was currently addressing.

She said he accepted his guilt and wished to apologise to the court for his behaviour on the evening in question.

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District Judge Alan White deferred sentencing until May 4 next year.

He told O’Boyle that it was “bizarre behaviour”.

Mr White warned the defendant that he should cooperate fully with probation over the next six months and show the court that he could stay out of trouble.