A Cork man who threatened to kill a Tidy Towns volunteer has been ordered by a district court judge to attend anger management classes. Vincent Harrington, 52, of Desert View, Clonakilty, appeared before Judge Joanne Carroll at Clonakilty District Court for sentencing.
Harrington was previously convicted of threatening to kill a Tidy Towns volunteer whose van was parked in a lay-by near the entrance to his driveway.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on Convent Hill, Clonakilty, on the afternoon of May 27, 2024.
Harrington threatened to hold the Tidy Towns volunteer’s head underwater and “keep it there until the last breath.” He claimed the van was dangerously parked in the lay-by, which adjoined a busy road.
Harrington argued there wasn’t enough room to safely pass the van, and that it restricted access to his property.
Garda Brian Noonan, who attended the scene, was able to pass the parked van in the lay-by with a garda SUV, and also reverse back past it.
He testified that, in his opinion, the van was not parked dangerously, did not block access to Harrington’s driveway, and did not pose a danger to vehicles turning onto the main road.
Judge Carroll stated that Harrington was “incensed by what he perceived was a wrong,” but that this perception was inaccurate. The judge said Harrington wanted to “threaten and bully people” to prevent them from parking in the lay-by and wanted to “take the law into his own hands.”
The judge told Harrington: “You are very volatile and explosive over this issue.”
Judge Carroll ordered Harrington to attend at least “three or four” anger management sessions, donate €200 to the poor box, and perform 20 hours of voluntary work, advising him to avoid working with Tidy Towns.
The judge stated that if Harrington complies with the court’s instructions, the Probation Act will be applied, and the case was adjourned until November 4, 2025.
