Pensioner gets suspended jail sentence for harassment

AN old age pensioner who harassed a woman in her 40s was given a suspended jail sentence at the District Court in Wexford.

Stephen Burke (72) from Upper Ballyhack, Arthurstown took photos of Anne Fitzgerald (or Anne Ennis), whose mother resides near the defendant.

The injured party endured verbal abuse and also complained that he had approached her and her 10-year-old child at the Centra supermarket in Ramsgrange where he remonstrated with her.

The court heard further that he sent correspondence to the complainant’s place of work.

The harassment ceased after the woman made a statement about the problems she was suffering with Burke last March to Garda Daniel Hayden.

Three photos of Ms Ennis were found on Burke’s phone when he was arrested, the garda confirmed.

He also agreed with defence solicitor Gerry Flynn that the images were not of a sexual nature.

The old age pensioner was feeling ostracised and victimised, suggested Mr Flynn who reckoned that there had been difficulties between his client and the woman’s family for 15 to 20 years.

Burke had a perception that a dis-service of some sort was done to him in the past, though this did not appear to be objectively the case, said the solicitor.

An apology was offered in court along with an assurance that he never intended his words to put her in fear.

Judge Brian O’Shea pointed to the detrimental effect that the defendant’s behaviour had on the injured party who had suffered significant harm.

The belief that she had somehow done him some sort of dis-service was mistaken, the court stressed.

A one month jail sentence was suspended for two years, with Burke ordered to have no further contact with the woman.