A 50-year-old man from Northern Ireland has been jailed after admitting to threatening to kill police officers in a series of alarming social media posts.
James Corry, from Ballymena, was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Belfast Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of making threats to kill. The court heard how Corry posted violent messages targeting Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers on Facebook.
Disturbing Social Media Threats
Prosecutors revealed that Corry's posts included chilling statements such as "dead cops are good cops" and threats to "put a bullet in the head" of officers. The messages appeared during a period of heightened tensions in Northern Ireland in March 2023.
Defence lawyers argued that Corry had been struggling with mental health issues and alcohol problems at the time of the offences. However, Judge Neil Rafferty KC emphasized that such threats against police officers were completely unacceptable.
Judge's Stern Warning
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Rafferty stated: "Police officers perform an essential public service and are entitled to the protection of the courts when carrying out their duties."
The judge noted that while Corry had no previous convictions for similar offences, the nature of the threats warranted immediate custody. Corry will serve half of his 18-month sentence in prison, with the remainder on licence.
This case highlights the growing concerns about online threats against public servants and the challenges faced by law enforcement in Northern Ireland.
