Man ( 63) jailed for throwing rock through window of mum’s house
SLIGO District Court was shown CCTV footage from a house which captured a man walking up the front path and hurling a rock through the front window.
Charged with committing the offence at a house at St Michael’s Terrace on June 4th 2016 was Val McLoughlin ( 63) of Stephen McDonagh Place.
After viewing the CCTV and hearing from the householder, Giselle Doyle, Judge Kevin Kilrane said the defendant had carried out an “evil act.”
He said the defendant, who had a dispute with the household he had broken the window in, had told the court “a tissue of lies from beginning to end.”
The defendant, who had denied the charge, had acted in a premeditated way and was partially camofloaged with a wollen cap as he carried out the damage.
The court was told Ms Doyle, the mother of a young child, had installed CCTV at her home after an upstairs bedroom window was broken in a similar incident on May 31st.
Ms Doyle said threats had made to her by McLoughlin and that she had since left the house since the incidents.
Garda Kevin Donegan told the court tht he went to Ms Doyle’s house at around 2pm and saw that a concrete rock had been put through her front sitting room window.
He later viewed CCTV footage of the incident and he was satisfied on viewing it that it was the defendant who had carried out the damage
Witness subsequently met with the defendant on June 6th and arrested him for questioning for causing criminal damage.
The CCTV was shown to the defendant who denied he had anything to do with it. Ms Doyle said that about 1pm on the same date she was on her way to collect her daughter at Abbey Street when the defendant drove past and was sniggering and laughing at her.
He told her that he heard what had happened her rear window and that she would want to watch the front of her house next.
Ms Doyle said she was certain the man in the CCTV was McLoughlin.
The defendant told the court he had nothing to do with the incident. It was put to him by Inspector Donal Sweeney ( prosecuting) that it was him in the CCTV and the defendant replied that it wasn’t. “I didn’t break any window,” he said. “It’s clear as day to me that it’s you” - Inspector. “No, it’s not me” - defendant.
He also denied having had a conversation with Ms Doyle at Abbey Street earlier.
“I never spoke to her in my life and that’s the Gospel truth,” he said.
He said he did have words with a Wayne McLoughlin, who was the father of Ms Doyle’s daughter, and wh allegedly stated that he was going to have his son shot.
Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor ( defending) pleaded that it was a sad state of affairs and it appeared there was ongoing family disputes.
“I hope they can see sense and that the hand of friendship can go out here today,” he said.
Mr McGovern added: “I ask you to bear in mind that there is a family dispute going on.”
Judge Kilrane said McLoughlin had shown no remorse. The Judge said he was finding that the defendant did say those things to Ms Doyle.
The defendant had gone into the property in a most cowardly fashion where a young woman was rearing her child and he knew she was in fear and dread and he traded on that and had no concern for their safety.
“I view this very seriously,” said Judge Kilrane jailing McLoughlin for five months. Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal.
Mr McGovern asked the Judge if would consider suspending the sentence but Judge Kilrane said he would only do so if there was clear evidence of acceptance which there wasn’t any at present.
The Judge refused a request to adjourn the matter to a court sitting the next day saying he would give the defendant, “five minutes.”
When the court resumed Mr McGovern said that unfortunately the defendant did not agree with the decision of the court.
The defendant was also not in a position to take up his baill immediately as he didn’t have the independent surety in place and the cash bond of € 700.
Mr McGovern was given leave to mention the matter again at Ballyshannon District Court the next morning.
Earlier, at the same curt, McLoughlin had a charge of breaking a rear bedroom window of Ms Doyle’s house on May 31st around 3am dismissed.
Doyle told the court that the previous night around 7 or 8pm she was putting rubbish in the wheelie bin at the front of her house when the defendant drove past and told her that she’d want to watch her house tonight.
Later that night she heard a smash at the back of her house and she rang the Gardaí. She told Mr McGovern that did not see who broke the window. She was in a front room with her then three year old daughter.
Garda Dave McDonagh told the court arrested the defendant in connection with the incident on July 17th. He denied any dealings with Ms Doyle on the evening in question.
He also stated that he was in bed and that he knew nothing about a smashed window. He described Ms Doyle’s claim that he had threatened her as a pack of lies.
At the conclusion of the evidence Mr McGovern sought a dismiss.
Judge Kilrane said he accepted everything which Ms Doyle had said and she was quite honest and she didn’t extend her evidence beyond what she heard.
The evidence certainly raised a lot of suspicion but this was not the same as guilt. He said the case was not proven and dismissed the charge.