Unwanted gifts and messages sent by defendant
A 40-year-old woman who, in the words of a judge, ‘ terrorised’ a former work colleague she was infatuated with, has received a suspended prison sentence.
Caroline Mallon, 396 Beechmount Drive, Cox’s Demesne, had already pleaded guilty to harassing the other woman on multiple dates between 1 September, 2016 and 13 December, 2016, by sending her unwanted gifts and messages.
The defendant’s solicitor said she was in love with the victim and laboured under a misapprehension.
Mallon apologised in court but Judge McKiernan remarked: ‘I think you are sorry because you know it’s D-day.’
A number of reports, including a victim impact statement, were available for a review of the case, evidence about which was heard previously by a different judge.
Sgt Fintan McGroder said that on 13 December, 2016 the injured party attended Dundalk garda station to report ongoing harassment by the defendant.
She requested that gardaí speak to her. This happened and officers conveyed the woman’s concerns to Mallon who agreed to stop.
However, in February, 2017 a formal complaint was made by the victim.
She supplied a bag of various unopened gifts left by the accused since 31 October, and allowed investigators access to her voicemail records.
Lists of messages and the gifts were handed into court.
Sgt McGroder said there was nothing threatening in unsolicited text messages.
The victim testified that she had to leave her job and move out of town as a result of this.
‘ There are intimidating and lingering looks (from Caroline Mallon) today. I feel she has no remorse. Her actions have consequences.’
She added the defendant had ignored formal warnings from work and got dismissed.
Witness continued that the other woman cried at her front door, put her hand through the letter box and ‘ had my name tattooed on her body’.
She added she had to phone the guards, wasting taxpayers’ money, to remove her from her home.
‘I got no apology or no sense of remorse. This is my third day in court over this.
‘I don’t wish harm to come to her. She needs help. I hope the court can provide it. That’s why I’m here today.’
The judge remarked: ‘ This girl has been completely and utterly traumatised.’
Solicitor Peter Lavery said his client is a polite, decent girl. She became infatuated for no good reason, and accepts that.
She has no previous convictions and there had been no further offending.
‘ The reality is she lacks understanding and minimised the offence,’ Judge McKiernan said, adding Mallon is not suffering from any mental illness whatsoever.
Mr Lavery conceded she does lack a certain understanding, but also lacks ‘ the same emotional development as a normal person’.
‘ There is a chance she could do it again,’ the judge added.
‘She terrorised this lady, drove her out of her job and out of her home. She couldn’t live her life.’
In the witness box Caroline Mallon apologised ‘from the bottom of my heart’.
‘I didn’t realise at the time how much it upset her. I understand things better now. I promise 100% nothing will ever happen again.’
The judge addressed the victim to ask if she had any comment on a custodial sentence she was considering.
‘Judge, you know best. I don’t know what options there are. I respect the decision of the court,’ the injured party replied.
Mr Lavery argued a sentence would be unfair on his client.
She co-operated as best she could. There had been no further offending or contact. There was no malice.
Judge McKiernan said the best she could do was a suspended sentence.
She imposed a six-month term, suspended for 12 months, subject to the defendant attending primary care counselling for twelve months, under the supervision of the probation service.