Thrones worker loses appeal and goes to jail

Thrones worker loses appeal and goes to jail

30 April 2014

A SET builder on the hugely popular Game of Thrones television series will spend six months behind bars for setting fire to his wife’s car in front of their disabled child.

Thirty four year-old Downpatrick man Damien Laverty, of Vianstown Park, worked on the series, which is renowned for its violence and graphic images, when scenes were being filmed locally.

Laverty had been sentenced to six months in prison earlier this month during an appearance at the local district court, but was immediately released on bail pending an appeal.

That appeal was scheduled to take place in the County Court on Monday but leave was sought by Laverty’s defence team to withdraw the case.

The district court had heard of a terrifying series of events instigated by Laverty, which culminated in him setting fire to his wife’s car.

As a result, he was charged with arson, resisting police, attempted criminal damage and sending a menacing phone message.

A prosecution lawyer said Mrs. Laverty telephoned the police at 5pm on September 29 last year and told them her estranged husband was refusing to leave the family home. When police arrived, Laverty left the premises, but started texting his wife.

She turned off her phone when she went to sleep that night, but when she turned it on the next morning she received a text saying he would kill her.

The woman was getting their children ready for school that morning when she saw Laverty was in the back garden.

He went to the back door of the house, kicked the glass panel and shouted for her to let him in.

When she refused, he picked up a slab of concrete from the back garden and smashed the window of the woman’s car which was sitting in the driveway.

Laverty then opened up the petrol tank of the car and lit a lighter near it. 

He picked up a coat from the car and set it on fire and then put it back in the car.

He also released the handbrake and the car rolled into the street in front of their home. He continued smashing the windows and body of the car with the concrete slab.

He then took a wheelie bin and threw it at the car causing it to melt from the heat of the fire.

When the police arrived to make an arrest, Laverty struggled with them and had to be restrained.

During the entire incident, the woman and their children were watching from inside the house, the court was told.

Defence barrister, Alan Blackburn, said that Laverty was upset that “the marriage was coming to an end.”

Before the appeal hearing was due to begin on Monday, Mr. Blackburn sought permission from Judge Geoffrey Miller for the case to be withdrawn.

Considering the withdrawal application, Judge Miller indicated that Laverty could have faced a higher sentence if his original case had been heard at the Crown Court.

He asked prosecutors to take note of his concern that the case had not been referred to the higher court, which would have imposed a two-year sentence.

“As far as I am concerned this case should have been in the Crown Court and if it had you would have faced a sentence of two years,” said Mr. Miller.

“I would ask the Public Prosecution Service to take due notice of the comments I am making.

“In the circumstance, I am going to grant your application to withdraw your appeal but be warned that this is a dreadful series of events.

“If you find yourself before a court again you can consider the likely result will be that you will be in front of me in a different capacity where I have greater powers.”