Man threatened Leitrim ex-partner he would ‘burn her out of it’

A father-of-three with previous convictions has been found guilty of making a violent threat to burn his ex-partner’s home in Mohill, Co Leitrim — a threat the court heard was followed days later by his arrival at the property with a group of men.

Leon Sweeney (30), of Garavogue Villas, Sligo, was convicted on at Carrick-on-Shannon Circuit Court before Judge John Alymer on July 22, after a jury heard he told his former partner Christine Harrison he would “land with a load and burn us out of it.”

The court was told the threat was linked to an incident on November 17, 2024, when Sweeney arrived outside Harrison’s home at O’Carolan’s Court along with several unidentified males.

Sweeney, who has a number of previous convictions, was found guilty of making a threat to cause criminal damage. He was cleared on two other counts, which related to alleged follow-up threats involving the home and sheds of Harrison’s mother, Angela McCrann.

The court heard the background involved an ongoing feud between Sweeney and Ms Harrison, the mother of his three children. The defence argued that Sweeney had not seen his children in 12 days and was distraught on the night in question.

“He was emotional, desperate to see his kids, and provoked by a series of abusive text messages,” defence barrister Martin Durack told the jury. “This wasn’t a calculated threat. This was a father breaking under emotional strain.”

Messages from Harrison to Sweeney were read in court, including: “Keep an eye on me. I’ll let you know who was on top of me — out of your family.” “Fuck off and die,” “I despise you” “I’ll see you in court this time. You only have your cousins as friends.”

Mr Durack argued Harrison had deliberately antagonised Sweeney and then filmed him arriving outside her home using two phones. “She was something of a film director, setting up cameras," he said. The defence claimed Harrison retrospectively constructed parts of her evidence and manipulated video footage. “She records everything,” Mr Durack said. “But she didn’t record the first threat. That’s because it never happened.”

Prosecution counsel Edmond Sweeney said the case was simple. “The accused man made threats with the intention of frightening Christine Harrison,” he told jurors. “There were two separate threats. The first was general – ‘burn us out of it.’ The second was more specific – to burn the house and sheds.”

He dismissed suggestions of manipulation, saying the threats were real and deeply frightening to the victim. “Ms Harrison was terrified. Her three children were present in the house,” he said.

The jury also heard a 999 call from Harrison, who told Gardaí she believed up to 15 masked men had entered the estate with Sweeney. However, Garda evidence suggested only a handful of individuals were present, and some elements of Harrison’s story shifted under cross-examination.

Judge Alymer reminded jurors that they were the sole judges of fact and must assess the credibility of each witness. “You must make your decision based solely on the evidence you have heard,” he said. “The burden of proof remains with the State throughout.”

After deliberating, the jury returned a guilty verdict on Count 1. Sweeney was convicted of threatening to damage property at Carolan Court, Mohill, on November 17, 2024, by making a threat to Angela McCrann to damage sheds belonging to her, intending to cause fear that the threat would be carried out.

Sweeney was found not guilty of threatening to damage buildings at Carolan Court, Mohill, on the same day. The threat was made via telephone to Christina Harrison, intending to cause fear that the property of Angela McCrann would be damaged.

Sweeney was found not guilty of threatening to damage Angela McCrann’s house on the same date, with the intention of causing fear that the threat would be carried out.

He is remanded in custody until early 2026 for sentencing.

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