Disgruntled former employee charged with threatening to blow up BT building

Stephen Walter Crean (36) of Breandrum Court, Enniskillen is accused of pursuing a course of conduct amounting to the harassment of four members of BT staff, threatening to kill them, and sending a message of a menacing character threatening to blow up their building and hoping family members would die from Covid.

These offences are alleged to have occurred on August 2.

When arrested the following day, Crean’s home was searched and from that came two additional charges of cultivating and possessing cannabis.

A police officer told Dungannon Magistrates Court all charges could be connected.

She explained a report was received from Enniskillen BT staff that former employee Crean had sent “menacing emails” after being dismissed from his role.

These were sent to employees who had been involved in the disciplinary procedures prior to this and including comments of “I hope you all get Covid and don’t die, but that your friends and family catch it and do die”.

One recipient of the message was in fear of what Crean may do, describing him as “unstable”.

Efforts were made to locate him by telephone during which he was abusive toward officers when made aware of the allegations and completely refused to co-operate, challenging police to find him as he would be, “going off the grid”.

Crean also sent a message warning if officers came to his door “thing could go bad”, and made specific reference to his collections of knives.

The next day, a further report was received from BT staff who had discovered more emails, containing various lines including “burn bitch, burn … As everything I do is so literal, I will place explosives at places around the BT building and they will kill. Seriously, no joke. I am killer. Read the report. I carry deadly knifes. I get stressed”.

Police arrested Crean at his home, where a search recovered “an array of bladed weapons” as well as herbal cannabis and five maturing cannabis plants.

Admissions were made during interview, in which Crean stated he had been under the influence of alcohol and while he had limited memory of what he’d done, accepted sending the messages.

He said he had no intention of carrying out the threats but wanted the recipients to fear he would.

Opposing bail, the officer said: “We believe the defendant would fail to comply with conditions given he deliberately evaded police attempts to arrest him after the first report.

“He may pose a risk of flight having stated he would go off grid. He possessed a lot of knives and used cannabis mixed with alcohol, leading to memory loss.

“He is unpredictable and shows concerning behaviour which poses a risk to the public. The threatening emails indicate he may go on to commit further offences.”

A defence solicitor said his client has no relevant record and was cooperative with police during interview.

In respects of the drugs, it was claimed Crean was “growing medicinal cannabis” to assist with arthritis pain.

The court heard: “An inordinate amount of alcohol was consumed and there was some disquiet about the outcome of a disciplinary hearing after which he was removed from the company.

With alcohol on board he sent emails and all electronic devices have been removed for examination. He has expressed deep regret and remorse.”

The defence contended bail could be granted, with conditions and risks could be managed.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan remarked: “Obviously the content of these emails was very disturbing and particularly severe in the current time when mentioning Covid.

However I think the defendant is a suitable candidate for bail, but he is going to have to stay off alcohol and drugs.”

Bail was set at £500 and Crean is to be electronically tagged, must have no contact with any injured parties and is banned from having devices capable of sending emails.

The case will return to Enniskillen Magistrates Court for review later this month.