Garda killer charged with threat to kill wife

Former Provisional IRA man Pearse McAuley has been remanded in custody after being charged with alleged threatening to kill his wife, a former Sinn Féin Cavan County Councillor, and two others, on Christmas Eve last.

Dressed in blue jumper and beige trousers and flanked by gardai, Mr McAuley (50) appeared before Judge Cormac Dunne at a Special Sitting of Cavan District Court earlier this evening.

Mr McAuley was arrested and detained by gardai under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at Cavan Garda Station for offences which occurred near the village of Kilnaleck, Co. Cavan on December 24.

A prominent Republican, Mr McAuley, with an address at Apartment 1, Block 2, Canal Bank Walk, Castleforde, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, appeared before the court with dark marks beneath his eyes and bandages on his arms.

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In the public gallery of the courtroom were members of Mrs Tully McAuley's family.

He is charged with alleged assault causing harm to his wife Pauline Tully McAuley at Keelderry, Kilnaleck, on December 24 last, and making threats to kill to her and two others at the same location on the same date.

The court heard from Garda Sergeant Michael Fitzpatrick that the defendant made no response to the charge of alleged assault to Mrs Tully McAuley, and in response to the charge of threatening to kill his wife, said: “I didn't say I was going to do it. I didn't set out to kill or harm Pauline McAuley.”

Mother of two Ms Tully McAuley, a secondary school teacher at Cavan Vocational School, stepped down from her role as a Sinn Féin county councillor in Cavan back in April 2012.

Having served more than 10 years as a public representative, she made the decision to resign citing work and family commitments.

At the Cavan Court sitting, consent was given by defence solicitor Eirinn McKiernan to the State application to have Mr McAuley remanded in custody to Castlerea Prison.

Legal aid was granted after the court heard Mr McAuley had been unemployed since October last.

He will appear again before Harristown Distict Court in Roscommon on January 2, 2015.