What action can I take to protect my family from aggressive neighbour?

Lily_Aldrin7

Hi there,

We live in rented accommodation, we have 2 small kids. Our kids have friends in the estate and so do we. Our neighbour next door has no kids and long story short, he’s very much disliked in the neighbourhood (he’s also renting). Last March he knocked on our door and said we were too loud as in the kids were jumping around. It was 11 in the morning so they weren’t quiet but they weren’t making excessive noise either, just playing. We apologised and a few days later we checked to see if he can still hear us and he said no. 3 days ago I was alone with my kids, my husband was at work. I was getting them ready for bed and there was banging at the door, someone was trying to get in, it was 7 pm. I texted the neighbourhood watch group and lots of neighbours came out immediately but there was nobody. The neighbour came out after a few min saying we were too loud and he lost his temper and wanted to kill us all. He broke the wing mirrors and the window of my car as well and the front door is now extremely loose. We’ve been dealing with the guards but they don’t advise us to press charges because they think it would be awkward since we’re neighbours. My husband was working again yesterday and I was afraid to stay home so we went to stay with a relative during the day and went back home at 7 pm. At 7.30 a patrol car came saying there was a complaint against us saying we were shouting and screaming. I invited them in, showed them my kids were in bed. The neighbour came out and tried to come inside the house threatening to kill me in front of the guards. They kicked him all the way inside his house and told him if he approaches us again he’ll get arrested. I’m waiting for them to e for my statement today and I’m so scared staying home. He can easily break in now that the door is loose. Can I get any advise on this? Should I press charges ? Do I need a solicitor ?

coylemj

You need to press charges and (as a minimum) have him bound over to keep the peace. A suspended sentence hanging over him would be a better option. But he will probably get a solicitor to make all sorts of excuses as to how he is under pressure in his personal life beause of marriage breakup or money trouble etc etc.

Are your local Gardai a bunch of complete idiots or why didn't they arrest him there and then and charge him? You've made several complaints about the guy, he submitted a false report about you to the Gardai (a crime in itself) and when they came to investigate, they saw him in action - what are they waiting for? It may that they're just lazy, you need to tell them you want to press charges. Don't be apologetic about it, tell them in a firm way that you want him charged.

You do not need a solicitor at this stage, it's a criminal matter and the Gardai should deal with it.

Caranica

Get the landlord to fix the door as soon as possible.

Talk to the Gardai and specifically to the community Garda. Make sure all your reports about him have been documented. See what they suggest, this won't be the first time they've encountered this, possibly even with this guy before.

Consider bringing the issue to a local TD if the Gardai still insist on leaving him on just a warning.

Another option open to you is to make a 3rd party complaint to the RTB.

Lily_Aldrin7

Thanks a million for the responses, I wasn’t firm at all with the guards, I was kind of saying I’ll do whatever they think is best so I’ll say it in my statement that I want to press charges. I don’t want to have to move because of the community here and school being 10 min away so all I want is for him to pay for the damage he cost and move out or never approach us again. Yesterday before he made the false report on us, the guards suggested that he apologises and promises never to do this again and just leave it at that. I was expecting an apology but nothing like that, just another death threat. I’m sure he has mental health issues because nobody behaves like does if they don’t. He just needs to get help, I had to call my GP for a Xanax prescription too.

Mrs OBumble

Lily_Aldrin7 wrote: »

....and tried to come inside the house threatening to kill me in front of the guards.

And they left him in the neighbourhood, and took a day to take your statement???

You need to be talking firmly to their sergeant.

And to your local politicians.

10pennymixup

If he's a tenant, a dispute taken with the RTB may force his Landlord to take action.

Lily_Aldrin7

10pennymixup wrote: »

If he's a tenant, a dispute taken with the RTB may force his Landlord to take action.

This is another thing I definitely want to look into. The guards said they can’t ask him for his landlord’s details though. Once I give my statement (they called today and said they’re too busy witch checkpoints so they’ll come tomorrow) I will pursue this with RTB, maybe through our own landlord

Lily_Aldrin7

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

And they left him in the neighbourhood, and took a day to take your statement???

You need to be talking firmly to their sergeant.

And to your local politicians.

Yes, I thought he’d get arrested because he was extremely violent towards the guard in top of making threats. The guard just asked him “Are you making threats???” and he said no, I think he realised he’s gonna be in trouble and got a grip of himself

Witcher

Story doesn't add up for me.

Samuel T. Cogley

It sounds like you're dealing with someone who is mentally unstable. Have a escape route planned but you are completely entitled to defend yourself if the need arises within your own home. Get the door fixed ASAP.

If contact: His landlord, the guards superior officer, lawyer.

In that order.

boldrevolt

Lily_Aldrin7 wrote: »

This is another thing I definitely want to look into. The guards said they can’t ask him for his landlord’s details though. Once I give my statement (they called today and said they’re too busy witch checkpoints so they’ll come tomorrow) I will pursue this with RTB, maybe through our own landlord

Yes you can contact RTB to find out who his landlord is.
Email them asap and let them know you have a neighbour harassing you and need to find out the landlords information., they will let you know the rout to take

Sinus pain

I think this guy may be mentally unstable. Do you know any of his family you could talk too? My own father was having olfactory hallucinations and thought his neighbour was gassing him. He approached her somewhat aggressively thinking he was saving his own life because she might get scared and stop. I couldn’t believe my ears when he was telling me this. I had to bring him to the doctor and a psychiatrist and explain to the neighbour what was happening and told her not to open the door to him and if she was afraid to ring the guards.
Thankfully his medication has kicked in - and he doesn’t think he’s being gassed but he still believes that she did it.

Larbre34

Lot to be said for a 'van load of the boys'.


Mod
No, there is not. Pls do not post again on this thread

djr15

There are situations where this is warranted but in this case since the guards are already involved and aware of the dispute it is best let them deal with it.

Specifically on the guards, there was a mention of "threatening to kill me in front of the guards."
Mentally unstable or not this is a legitimate threat and should have been dealt with there and then.
Ring the guards immediately, get the door repaired today, make the neighbourhood watch aware of the danger to you and those in your area today and prepare to protect yourself and your family.
An escape route and safe place to stay for a few days may be advisable.

First and foremost, contact the guards and emphasise you want immediate action taken against this man today.

Be safe.

Larbre34 wrote: »

Lot to be said for a 'van load of the boys'.