Man who threatened to blow up garda station says ‘I’m not a terrorist, I was just drunk’
Josef says he’s ‘literally Irish’ himself after his threat to blow up Killarney Garda Station
Wheelchair-bound Josef Urbanszky, who has lived in Killarney since he was eight years old, says he has been threatened and has had his family’s address shared online in the wake of the video blowing up on social media.The 28-year-old now faces a number of charges arising from his behaviour on the night the video was recorded.However, he has insisted there was nothing more behind what occurred than a bad cocktail of prescribed medication and tequila shots.“I’m not [a terrorist],” said Josef, who suffered a severe spinal cord injury in a car accident in 2014.“I was after my medication and drinks. My medication is for seven or eight different things and I was out a long time drinking.“It was tequila shots and then something happened in there.“And because of the way I had been treated, I was talking sh*te … that’s it.”Killarney locals helped Josef get specialised treatment in Slovakia after his car accidentReferring to the online commentary tarring him as a terrorist, Josef said: “That’s a joke.“I’m literally Irish myself. I’ve lived here since I was eight or nine. I went to the Mon [primary school] and the Sem [secondary school]. I played soccer here.“Everyone knows me here.”In 2014, locals in Killarney rallied to Josef’s aid after he suffered devastating injuries in a car crash in Co Kerry.Then 18, he was heavily involved in sport in the local community at the time.Josef was a passenger in the car when the collision occurred.After the accident, he was transferred to the Mater Hospital in Dublin where he spent three months recovering and underwent major surgery for his broken neck.With the devastating news that he was paralysed from the chest down, Josef was transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire to begin his long road of recovery and adjustment to his injury.It was at that stage that the people of Killarney organised a fundraiser to fund specialised physiotherapy in Slovakia.The appeal was carried by most local media outlets in the county.For many people in Killarney, the next time they would hear of Josef was when his video began circulating on Monday.Josef Urbanszky who threatened to bomb Killarney Garda stationIn the video, Josef, who is recording himself with his phone while his wheelchair is being pushed by another unidentified male, can be heard saying: “Ireland, you’re all going down.“Especially, here in Killarney because I’m going to drop a bomb in that Killarney station.“I’m going to f**king wheel in there with a bomb on me. You think I’m f**king joking right.“You think I don’t have terrorist friends round here?”Speaking on Thursday, Josef said he was aware the video he recorded had been seized on by a growing anti-immigrant movement.“I jumped in with this at the most stupid time … not a good subject and really bad timing.”Josef continued that he is most concerned by the fact his family’s address is being shared online.“I have people threatening me.“But my address is being shared and my family live here — that’s not right. It’s gotten out of hand totally. After I woke up, it had already gone viral. The whole thing is crazy.”Josef was arrested in Killarney on Thursday and charged before Listowel District Court with a series of offences from the night the video was recorded.He faces two charges of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour at locations at New Road and College Square Killarney on April 28.He further faces four counts of assault on members of the gardai at Killarney Garda station on the same date. And he faces a single count of threatening to bomb Killarney Garda Station via social media on the same date.Josef is represented in the case by Killarney based solicitor Padraig O’Connell.On Mr O’Connell’s application, he was granted bail on four conditions including that he stay off social media and not go to Killarney Garda Station unless it an emergency. He is also to keep a curfew from 9pm to 7am and be of sober habits.He will appear again before Killarney District Court later this month.
