A Romanian man who attacked his neighbours in their home with a metal bar and baseball bat and later threatened to kill his former wife has been given a three year sentence.

Iosif Popitan (29) told gardai he was under financial pressure at the time to pay for a restaurant for his daughter’s christening. He said his neighbours owed him €3,000 and he believed his wife, the mother of his daughter, had money from her family. He was recognised by his neighbours, who had also lived with him for a time, and gardai overheard the threat to his wife via her phone as she was reporting a “domestic disturbance.”

Popitan of Gracepark Manor, Drumcondra, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to aggravated burglary on September 10, 2011 at St. Mobhi Court, Glasnevin and making a threat to kill his former wife at the same location on October 6, 2011. He has three previous convictions.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring told Popitan: “In every life financial pressure can bring people to the edge but most do not take a baseball bat and metal bar and use it on someone they feel owes them money.” She said she also could not over look the fear his former wife must have felt.

Judge Ring imposed a three year sentence and suspended the final 18 months.

Garda Andrew McCabe said the couple told gardai three men had pushed their way into their home at about 11.30pm and demanded money. A metal bar from a towel rail and a baseball bat, both of which were already in the apartment, were used on the couple.

The trio left with cash, mobile phones and a laptop belonging to the couple and their friend. The man suffered a laceration to his head and his wife suffered injuries to her hand as she tried to protect her husband. They did not complete a victim impact report.

The following month gardai were with Popitan’s wife dealing with a domestic issue when she received a phone call from him in which they heard him threaten to shoot her.

His wife, who was frightened and upset over ongoing domestic issues, has since left the country with their daughter and the relationship has ended.

The next day, October 7, 2011, gardai arrested Popitan. He told gardai it was his view that the couple owed him €3,000 and after a few drinks he had decided to get the money back. He claimed the male injured party had started the fight.

Pieter Le Vert BL, defending, said Popitan was under financial pressure at the time to pay for his daughter’s christening and was drinking too much.

He said after he was unable to get the money he claimed he was owed by his neighbours “significant difficulties” had arisen between Popitan and his wife. He had asked her to contribute money to the christening as he believed she had money from her family in Romania.

Mr Le Vert said Popitan was angry and tired and admitted he wanted to scare his wife so she would give him money. He said Popitan had taken a bench warrant in this case after his brother was killed in a traffic accident in Germany and he needed to deal with family issues. He returned earlier this year “to face the music” and the warrant was executed.

Counsel submitted the offences were entirely out of character and handed in a number of references. He said Popitan did not have a drinking problem but was drinking too much at the time.