Young man in the Midlands threatened to 'chop up' his mother 'and sell her parts'

A man who had stopped taking his medication threatened to chop his mother up. 

The Family Law Court heard the man (22) had breached a safety order at his home address in Laois on October 25, 26 and 27 and again on a date between October 1 and October 24, 2024.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the man’s mother reported that she had been the victim of verbal abuse and he had said “that he would chop her up and sell her parts.” 

He said the defendant had no previous convictions. 

The woman took to the stand and explained that her son had been diagnosed with ADHD and had suffered from depression. She said he had “decided to stop taking his medication” over a six month period and “October was when it escalated." 

She said he had never done anything like it before and was now back on his medication. 

“Do you have concerns that he might stop attending services?” Judge John Brennan asked the woman. 

The woman said she didn’t and she felt he now realised the importance of his treatment. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client was pleading guilty. She said he was “still welcome at home and in a much better place.” 

She said her client suffered with ADHD and was bipolar. “He would benefit greatly from the intervention of the  probation services,” she added. 

“His poor parents have been worn out,” she said. 

She said her client would like to attend college. “When he is medicated he is the grandest fella,” she said. 

Judge John Brennan commended Garda McGrath for his handling of the case which he said could otherwise have ended up before the circuit court. 

“He should be grateful to his mum and dad,” the Judge added. 

“But for the very understanding and generous victim impact statement from mum I would certainly have considered a custodial sentence,” he said. 

He remanded the defendant on bail and adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on May 22.