A 22-year-old Limerick man who threatened the life of the chief State witness during the high profile trial of the killers of Limerick crime boss Kieran Keane has been jailed for four and a half years.
John Dundon of Mayorstone Court in Limerick pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to making the threat to kill or cause serious harm to Owen Treacy at Cloverhill Courthouse in November 2003.
Owen Treacy was under police protection for the duration of the trial, which was held in the secure surroundings of the courtroom in the grounds of Cloverhill Prison.
He made the threat to Mr Treacy's wife, Donna, during the course of her husband's cross-examination. He swore on his baby's life that when the trial was over he would kill Owen Treacy.
Dundon is the brother of Dessie Dundon, one of the five men convicted of Kieran Keane's murder.
Sentencing John Dundon, Judge Yvonne Murphy said the real gravity of the charge is that it is an offence against public justice.
Counsel for John Dundon, Brian McInerney, said his client wished to apologise for what he called a monumentally stupid outburst.
Dundon was under stress at the time because of his brother's difficulties, the court was told.
Donna Treacy was in court today accompanied by Kieran Keane's widow Sophie and other members of her family.
