Independent Senator Aubrey McCarthy has said he forgives a man sentenced for threatening to kill both him and the CEO of his charity, Tiglin.
Brian McCann, who is a former resident of Tiglin with an address in north Dublin, yesterday pleaded guilty at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court to one count of harassment and one threat to kill against Senator McCarthy, and one count of threatening to kill against Philip Thompson.
Senator McCarthy said he is "relieved" the ordeal is now behind him, adding that he does not believe McCann had "set out to cause damage".
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said Tiglin was set up to help "people that are marginalised, people with issues" and that McCann has a "mental health issue".
The senator said that while the legal profession has handled the matter and it has gone through the justice system, "I still feel it's not the place for him".
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He said McCann's defence appealed to the judge, saying "unfortunately the supports that this chap needs, he won't get them in probation, he won't get them in jail".
He added that McCann "has mental health issues" and the only way to deal with that is "through mental health supports".
"I believe his mind was leading him, he was hearing voices," he said.
The senator said Mental Health Reform, the College of Psychiatrists, Shine and the HSE have all stated "there are gaps here and we need to deal with people through support before a crisis begins".
"And with this guy, it was a crisis," he said.
