He threatened to 'execute' hospital staff and kill MP before greeting police with a crossbow
A man who threatened to kill Labour's Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and "execute" hospital staff was armed with a loaded crossbow when police came to his home. Ryan Breheny, 48, told a 999 call handler he had been “offered an AK-47 and was going to execute everyone in a hospital wearing a uniform".
Less than an hour later, he sent two threatening email messages to Wigan MP Lisa Nandy's constituency office in which he threatened to kill the Labour front bencher. When police arrived at his house in Wigan later that evening, they saw Breheny was armed with a crossbow.
Officers shouted at him to drop the crossbow, but he began to load it and opened the door with the weapon in his hand. He was arrested after he dropped the weapon and police then found slingshots, rifles, a baton and a machete in his house.
READ MORE: Suspects named after large quantity of 'drugs' found in house
READ MORE: Man charged after armed police swarm street
When interviewed, he admitted sending the emails to Ms Nandy's office and making the call to the emergency service, but claimed he didn't intend to carry out his threats. Breheny was jailed for three years and three months at Bolton Crown Court on September 17. He admitted making threats to kill at a previous court appearance.
In a victim personal statement, which was read to the court, the office manager who opened the emails said: “I was shocked and genuinely believed that this man could’ve carried out the threats that he was making.”
Abbie Clarke, of the CPS, said after sentencing: “Breheny’s threats have caused fear and distress to the staff at the MP’s office. Members of Parliament and the emergency services play vital roles in our communities and criminality cannot be allowed to impede or affect that in any way.
“The Crown Prosecution Service works with the police to protect MPs and our emergency services, so they can continue to do their important work.”
Detective Constable Cupitt from Greater Manchester Police said: “Breheny’s threats were shocking and disturbing, causing distress to those involved. We will not hesitate to act where people make these sort of threats and will seek to secure the appropriate charges.
"We work closely with elected officials to ensure they can carry out their work without the fear of individuals who would cause them harm, and will always do our best to protect them and our communities.”