A Dublin man has gone on trial accused of making a death threat against Sunday World journalist, Paul Williams.
45-year-old James Walsh of Mountain View Drive, Churchtown was accused of making a threat to kill and another to cause serious harm in June 2003.
The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Williams had received three telephone calls after he had called to Walsh's home.
Walsh is alleged to have told him he would be joining Veronica Guerin if he wrote about him and he said he would not be walking for very much longer.
Opening the prosecution case, Fergal Foley said a threat against a journalist had an added seriousness because freedom of the press is one of our democracy's more fundamental freedoms.
The trial continues tomorrow.
