Cork man due to go on trial on charges including threatening to kill woman changed plea to guilty  

A 43-YEAR-old man due to go on trial on Monday, on charges including the making of a threat to kill a woman in Fermoy and causing damage to her home, has changed his plea to guilty.

A jury panel was in place at Anglesea St Courthouse, in Cork, to be sworn in for the trial of Jason O’Callaghan, of 4 Old Lachnalooha, Mallow, County Cork.

However, as the jury was about to be sworn in, Brendan Kelly, barrister, asked to have the accused arraigned on five charges.

When this was done, Jason O’Callaghan pleaded guilty to the charges before Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Helen Boyle thanked the jury panel and said that on the plea of guilty being entered, they were no longer required.

Judge Boyle remanded Jason O’Callaghan in custody until November 8 for sentencing and directed the preparation of a probation report and victim-impact statement.

The judge was told that the accused had been in custody since January, when the offences were committed.

Mr O’Callaghan admitted causing criminal damage to the front door and three windows of a house at Baile Ard, Fermoy, County Cork, on January 16.

He also admitted to making a threat to kill or cause serious injury to a woman living at that house.

Additionally, he admitted causing criminal damage to a Garda patrol car and possession of a weapon, namely an axe on the same date.

Finally, he pleaded guilty to resisting Garda Martin Murphy at Emmett St, Fermoy, on the same date.

So far, the background circumstances to the case have not been outlined in court.

That will be done at the sentencing hearing in November.