An elderly woman who threatened to blow up her neighbour's van has been given a four month suspended sentence at the Cork District Cork this afternoon.
Mrs Mary McGrath (63), a member of the Legion of Mary with an address at Innishmore Drive, Ballincollig, Co Cork was convicted in May of last year of threatening to kill or cause serious injury to father of two, MrChristopher Blackham.
Mrs McGrath had accused Mr Blackham of dumping her into a wheelie bin after an argument between the pair. However, her claims were dismissed as falsehoods by the sitting judge Con O'Leary.
A psychiatrists report prepared for the courts stated the pensioner suffers from a "a restrictive cognitive ability to understand what she is doing."
Mr Blackham and his had told the judge they only had one quiet night a week - during Mrs McGrath's Legion of Mary meeting when she turned off her loud music.
The Blackham's claimed Mrs McGrath continually abused them, frightened their two children and even at one staged threatened to kill them.
The pensioners verbal outbursts were attributed to excessive drinking. However, the court has heard she has made strenuous efforts to stay away from alcohol in recent times.
Mrs McGrath's solicitor, Brian Long, said his client had served six weeks at Limerick prison which was not a pleasant experience. He said the media spotlight on the case has taken its toll.
Judge Con O'Leary sentenced Mrs McGrath to four months in jail. The sentence was suspended and Mrs McGrath was bound to the peace for one year.