Harassment will not be tolerated, warns judge

KENMARE WOMAN THREATENED WITH CUSTODIAL SENTENCE IF FURTHER APPROACH IS MADE TO MALE

A KENMARE woman has been warned by Judge David Waters that she is to be under “no illusion” that she will be going to jail if she comes before the court for harassment again.

“If she approaches him again she will be getting a sentence in excess of seven months,” he said.

Ann O’Sullivan of 2 Fern Walk, Parc na Gloine, Kenmare, was before Kenmare District Court for public order offences. She had previously been before the court on a number of charges of sending ‘nuisance’ text messages to Raymond Downing in 2011.

The case had not been finalised the court heard but she was under review to ensure that she did not continue to contact the man.

The court heard that she had “taken a shine” to this man and had started making calls and texts which were not reciprocated. She was subsequently charged with sending messages by telephone which were a nuisance on various dates in April, May and June 2011 and in November 2012.

The court heard that there was only one incident since then when she told an ambulance crew that he should be contacted but no charges were brought in this instance.

The court was told that she had received a suspended sentence in relation to the harassment of the same man and that these offences were after that first charge.

Judge David Waters said that if she had committed the other offences while on a suspended sentence in front of him she would have received a sentence.

He said Judge O’Connor took a “very measured” response, adding that her behaviour was “very upsetting and damaging” and could not be “tolerated”. He said he would finalise the situation but warned if there was repeat behaviour he would impose a custodial sentence.

He gave her a suspended sentence in relation to the one of the charges and took the others into consideration. “You now have two suspended sentences hanging over you,” he said.

“She will be putting the key into the cell and opening it yourself if you contact him again,” he warned.

Ms O’Sullivan was also before the court charged with public order offences.