Warrant issued for blogger accused of harassing ex-partner
A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a sound engineer accused of hacking into her ex-boyfriend’s social media accounts and blogging about their break-up during an alleged campaign of harassment.
Emma Butt (29) is also alleged to have moved two doors down from her ex’s apartment after their split, sent him a false photo of a pregnancy test and chased him down a road.
She is facing trial but failed to appear in Dublin District Court yesterday morning and Judge Michael Walsh issued a warrant for her arrest.
Ms Butt, from Riverside Grove, Coolock, Dublin, is accused of harassing her ex-partner at various locations between February 1 and May 30 in 2015.
Previously, the court had heard she was living in London. She had travelled back to Ireland for her last court appearance but defence barrister John Griffin said Ms Butt was not present when her case was called today.
State Solicitor Mary Kate Halpin asked the judge to issue a bench warrant for her arrest. “I can’t object to that,” Mr Griffin said. Judge Walsh had refused jurisdiction to deal with the case in the district court, saying it was alleged every possible device was used in the alleged harassment.
On the earlier date, Garda Mark Nolan, of Sundrive Road station, had outlined the prosecution’s case, saying Ms Butt had been in a relationship with the complainant for seven months. After it ended, the man was subjected to a massive amount of emails and phone calls, he said.
The court heard she wrote a six-part blog about their relationship, which she sent to members of his family and other people known to him. It was alleged his Twitter account was accessed by her and his followers were sent the blog.
The court heard the man worked in the television and sound business and the blog was sent to his employer and clients. The court heard it was alleged she sent a false photo of a pregnancy test, which turned out to be a stock picture.
On one occasion, gardaí were called because she was waiting outside the man’s apartment but she had left by the time they arrived, Gda Nolan said.
At one stage Ms Butt allegedly moved into the same apartment complex, two doors down from him, and lived there for about three months. She would be outside in the car park waiting for him and “he would be forced to literally run down the road while she chased him”, Gda Nolan said.