Harrassment case further adjourned

A 39-year-old woman who was infatuated with her then work colleague, and pleaded guilty to harassing her, has had the case further adjourned.

Caroline Mallon, 396 Beechmount Drive, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to harassing the lady in question on multiple dates between 1 September, 2016 and 13 December, 2016.

At a hearing last February, defence solicitor Niall Lavery described this as an ‘unusual’ charge of harassment.

It was an unrequited friendship. His client believed a work relationship was more than it was.

There was no malice, violence or threats involved, rather the defendant was infatuated with the other person, and was sending presents to her.

Mallon has no previous convictions, and lost her job as a result of this.

On that occasion, Judge Coughlan adjourned the matter to 5 September for the victim to attend court, if she wanted.

Last week, solicitor Peter Lavery reminded the judge he was of a mind to record no conviction but the injured party has indicated she is not happy with that.

The victim gave evidence that she went through ‘ an awful time’ from December, 2015 until last February.

‘What way do you want me to deal with it?’ the judge asked. ‘What do you think is fair?’

‘I want her (Caroline Mallon) to get help. She still lingers around me.’

Judge Coughlan asked Mr Lavery would it be possible for his client to live outside Dundalk?

The victim said she has to pass the defendant’s house to go to her family home.

‘ The message hasn’t got through,’ she added.

‘I’ve been followed around Tesco and had to leave. I’ve had to step down from all the committees and groups I was involved in.

‘ This is completely unrequited,’ she continued before adding there have been no incidents ‘ in the last few months.’

Mr Lavery submitted it is ‘ somewhat disproportionate’ to ask Caroline Mallon to leave Dundalk.

After consulting with his client, he said she couldn’t agree to live anywhere else.

Mallon then told the court: ‘I’m not going to upset her any more. I don’t want to see her upset.’

The judge said he took this very seriously. He adjourned the case until 6 March, 2019, and ordered probation and psychiatric reports on the defendant for that date.

He also requested a victim impact report.