Man who threatened to kill MP Lisa Nandy and 'execute' NHS workers jailed for three years

A man who threatened to kill an MP and "execute" NHS workers has been jailed for three years and three months.

Ryan Breheny, 48, also said he had been offered an AK-47 assault rifle and and claimed he was going to attack NHS workers, Bolton Crown Court heard.

The 48-year-old, of Old Hall Street, Wigan, made the threat to kill the local MP Lisa Nandy, who is now Labour’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

He was jailed on Tuesday, 19 September, after pleading guilty to making a threat to kill, making threatening communications and common assault.

The court heard Breheny first called the emergency services just after 6:15pm on 3 June 2024, and told the police operator he wanted to make a complaint about the NHS.

He then said that he had been “offered an AK-47 and was going to execute everyone in the hospital wearing a uniform”.

He continued to make threats, using the word “execute“ multiple times, referring to the specific weapons he was planning on using.

During the call, Breheny referred to chemicals he could get hold of and how easy it was to make a bomb.

Less than an hour later, he sent two threatening emails to Lisa Nandy’s constituency office, threatening to kill the MP.

The office manager who opened the emails called police. But as one of the officers knocked on the door, he could see Breheny inside the house, beginning to arm a crossbow.

Breheny then came to the door with the weapon in his hand. He was arrested and police found weapons including air rifles, crossbow bolts, a machete, slingshots and a baton.

He admitted sending the emails and making the call to emergency services but denied any intention of carrying out out his threats.

Abbie Clarke, senior Crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in the North West, said: “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 James Cupitt, of 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."

Have you heard our new podcast Talking Politics? Every week Tom, Robert and Anushka dig into the biggest issues dominating the political agenda…