Gorey man charged with harassing his neighbour

A 43-year-old man stood accused of harassing his next door neighbour in a Gorey housing estate when he appeared at the District Court in Gorey.

Allen Harris from 48 Gorey Hill was charged with harassment of Patricia Crosbie on a date unknown in 2017.

However, Garda John Cashman believed that problems between the two in the cul-de-sac where both reside went back as far as 2011.

He alleged that the harassment included driving up recklessly on to a footpath and the playing of loud music.

The court was told that Harris’s behaviour had been detrimental to Ms Crosbie’s mental health and that she was genuinely in fear of the man next door.

The garda sought to have the accused barred from walking past his neighbour’s house as a condition of bail.

However, this suggestion was turned down by Judge Gerard Haughton after he heard counter-argument from defending solicitor Lana Doherty.

She insisted that her client was entitled to bring his dogs for a walk and to the enjoyment of his own home.

Harris agreed while on bail to have no contact with Ms Crosbie and with neighbours who are also likely to be witnesses, Ellen and Jim Kenny, Jim and Geraldine Duignan, Anne Cleary and Tom Ryan.

On that basis, the matter was adjourned.