Elderly Kildare brothers left terrified after burglary and a threat to kill

Two elderly brothers were left terrified after one was burgled and the other was threatened that his head would be cut off  in a County Kildare village.

Daniel Ryan, 22, whose address was given as 15 Melrose Grove, Clondalkin, appeared before a sitting of Naas District Court charged in connection with a series of incidents at Castledermot on January 4 last.

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Sgt Gráinne Phelan alleged the defendant first entered Horan’s filling station premises at 7.15pm, picked up a firelog and threatened two members of staff.

She further claimed he went to a private residence and committed a burglary as well as taking a Bushman saw from the kitchen.

At 7.45pm he went to the house of the man’s brother where he threatened to cut his head off and made a demand for €10,000.

Sgt Phelan said she confronted the man in the garden of the house and used pepper spray before arresting him.

She said five incidents took place in the space of 45 minutes and when he was subsequently charged the defendant made no reply after caution.

The court heard that CCTV images identified him in the filling station and he was wearing the same clothes when he was detained.

The court was also told the defendant is addicted to crack cocaine, heroin and alcohol and he had threatened to kill a 17 year old in the filling station.

Sgt Phelan said the defendant has an aunt in Carlow and he went there to “dry out and come off all drugs.”

The court heard that one of the houses  was a crime scene and this meant that the man had to stay in a hotel for a night.

“They are absolutely terrified,” Sgt Phelan said of the brothers.

All of the matters were initially adjourned.