Man (48) on harassment charges

A 48-YEAR- OLD Bunclody man, who was before the District Court on harassment charges, accessed the dating profile of the woman he had been harassing on the internet.

Garda Sharon Hanlon was concerned that defendant David Doyle from 28 Carraig Bán in Bunclody was on bail at the time he went on line.

The matter was called before Judge John Cheatle at the District Court sitting in Gorey on February 20.

This was more than eight months after details of Doyle’s offending were given to the court.

It was stated to the judge sitting in June of last year that Doyle repeatedly threw stones at the property of Bernadette Murphy, also in Carraig Bán.

When the matter was re-called on February 20, Garda Hanlon entered the witness box to express what she felt were serious concerns.

It appeared that Doyle had been following Ms Murphy on the internet, twice accessing her online dating profile.

It appeared that this had been done once in his own names and then under a nickname.

It seemed to the garda that the defendant was obsessed with this lady who no longer felt safe as a result.

Ten years resident in her single storey home, she had made the place a comfortable home for herself.

Yet, said the garda, she no longer felt secure there and had applied to the local authority for a transfer.

Garda Hanlon confirmed that Doyle had paid €1,200 compensation to the injured party in the case.

The court learned that windows upstairs in his house are now opaque so that he cannot look out over Ms Murphy’s property.

He looks after his elderly father and has resided in Carraig Bán for most, if not all of his life.

Judge John Cheatle said he had read a psychological report on the defendant before setting a six month sentence, suspended for two years.

The court ruled that Doyle must remain under supervision of the probation service, must not contact his neighbour, must not follow her on any social media platform and must not stalk her on line.