Jake Hannon began taking drugs at just 13-years-old

A MAN has been sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment after he threatened to have a bus driver shot and killed.

Jake Hannon, now aged 25, with an address in Kilrush, County Clare, appeared before Judge Patricia Harney via video-link from prison.

At Limerick District Court, he pleaded guilty to charges relating to an offence which took place on October 24, 2018. He is currently in custody for other matters.

Judge Harney heard that, at approximately 5pm on the date of the offence, the defendant boarded a bus, which was travelling from Colbert Station in the city to Shannon, Co Clare.

Prosecuting Sergeant Aisling O’Neill told the judge that as the bus neared the Ennis Road, Mr Hannon became disruptive.

The bus driver, who is the injured party in the case, pulled the vehicle over and pleaded with the then-17-year-old to stop and to calm down.

Judge Harney was informed that Mr Hannon then told the driver his grandfather “had a bouncer shot in Limerick, I’ll have you shot too” and that he began making gestures towards the driver.

He eventually got off the bus.

Jake Hannon has 32 previous convictions, including for assault, criminal damage, public order, possession of knives and burglary. Some of his previous convictions relate to offences which occurred outside of the jurisdiction and in the UK.

He was extradited back to the country, the court was told.

Solicitor Tom Kiely asked the court to note his client had entered a guilty plea in relation to the threat offence. He said he was a child on his own in an unfamiliar county at that time.

It was his view that the bus driver “didn’t lose too much sleep” over the threat.

Mr Kiely continued by saying his client began using drugs when he was aged 13 and that he is now 25 and facing sentencing for an offence which dates back eight years.

The bus driver declined the opportunity to make a victim impact statement.

Judge Harney said that while what happened boils down to a “simple exchange of words,” the driver did not know whether the statement made to him was factual.

She said she has a “lot of sympathy” for those who have to deal with such behaviour while doing their jobs but she gave credit to the fact that Mr Hannon did get off the bus.

Having considered all matters, she sentenced Jake Hannon to four weeks’ imprisonment.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.