A sentence of ten years has been imposed on 27-year-old Wayne Dundon, described as one of the most violent criminals in Limerick.
He had denied threatening to kill a barman in the city last December. Two further sentences of three years were also imposed for assaulting two gardaí while in custody.
Dundon, of Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, Limerick had denied threatening to shoot 19-year-old barman Ryan Lee at Brannigan's Pub in the city on 19 December last.
Dundon had made the gesture of a gun with his hands and put it to Mr Lee's face threatening to kill him after the barman had refused to allow Dundon's 14-year-old sister Annabel enter the pub.
Thirty minutes after the threat was made, Mr Lee was shot twice in the bar. Nobody has been charged with the shooting.
The court was told Mr Lee and his family are still under garda protection.
Common sense
Before sentencing today, Judge Carroll Moran said while there was no evidence that Dundon was involved in the shooting, to deny a connection would be to disregard common sense.
Judge Moran said the shooting was indicative of the significance of the threat and could be taken into account as part of the circumstances of this case.
He said very little could be said about Dundon in mitigation. The judge said he has a long record and he believes the appropriate sentence was the maximum of ten years.
Judge Moran described the video evidence shown in court of Dundon lunging at the gardaí while in custody as ‘dreadful’. One of the gardaí had not been able to return to work because of his injuries since the assault on 21 December.
He imposed two further sentences of three years to run concurrently.
Dundon is a member of the notorious Dundon gang who are involved in a vicious feud in Limerick city.
His brother, Dessie, is serving a life sentence for the murder of Kieron Keane and another brother, John, is serving four years for threatening one of the witnesses involved in the Keane murder trial.
