Qld: Two years probation for man threatening chopper

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2006
Qld: Two years probation for man threatening chopper

By Daniel Pace

GOLD COAST, Qld, Feb 15 AAP - A man who twice threatened to shoot down a helicopter
with a homemade bazooka and tomatoes fired from a spud gun has been sentenced to two years
probation.

Anthony Douglas Donohue, 35, today pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court to
two counts of threatening to endanger the safety of an aircraft.

"You have to admit it was pretty stupid behaviour," Magistrate Alex Chilcott told Donohue
after handing down the sentence.

The court was told Donohue, of Sorrento, was annoyed by a helicopter on survey flights
near the home he shares with his parents.

It was alleged he made threats to Air Services Australia on November 22 last year after
lodging complaints about the helicopter with police and Coolangatta Airport.

"I have a homemade bazooka and if that helicopter is here again tomorrow I will fire
the bazooka at this guy," Donohue was alleged to have said.

"I have had a gutful."

Donohue also claimed he was "going to shoot tomatoes out of his spud gun" to bring it down".

The pilot returned to base because of the threats.

The prosecution sought a $5,000 fine, arguing such threats should be taken seriously
following a world-wide spate of terrorist attacks.

Donohue's solicitor Bill Potts said his client was under stress over a relationship
breakdown and his failure to find work in the building industry following a holiday in
the United States.

Mr Potts also said Donohue had been suffering from post-traumatic stress after being
assaulted in a home invasion last year.

The noise from the helicopter was "the straw that snapped the camel's back" for Donohue,
Mr Potts said.

"My client did not even have a bazooka or a spud gun that could shoot tomatoes so clearly
he made a threat he couldn't carry out," Mr Potts said.

"It was a spur of the moment act of stupidity in circumstances where he was clearly distressed."

Mr Chilcott ordered Donohue to undergo psychiatric counselling as part of his probation orders.

AAP djp/sc/it/bwl

KEYWORD: DONOHUE

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