A 22-year-old farm worker who became “obsessed” with a 43-year-old married woman has been warned by a judge not to contact her.
Conor Haugh of Killballyowen, Cross, Co Clare, pleaded guilty last July to harassing the woman between February last year and January 5th this year. He spent a number of months on remand in custody for the offence before being released on bail in July pending sentence, under strict conditions, including that he make no contact with the victim.
At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, the State applied for his bail to be revoked and for him to be remanded in custody after he sent two text messages last month to the woman.
Counsel for the State, Stephen Coughlan, described Haugh sending the woman the two texts as “a serious breach” that had given rise to “a very worrying and disturbing situation”.
Other women
In evidence in July, Garda Adrian Cosgrove said that in one message sent to the woman, he texted: “I think you’re a MILF. I saw you over the summer with your tanned body. Very hot.”
Garda Cosgrove said the victim was not the only woman to receive texts from Haugh.
The investigation discovered he was sending texts to other women in the area and one as far away as Kerry. He said the typical profile of the women was that they were in their 40s and 50s and married with children.
Garda Cosgrove told the court Haugh texted the woman twice on September 10th. In the first text, Haugh told the woman “I’m sorry. I don’t know what is up with me. Please don’t go to the Guards. I swear that I am really sorry for everything and I really regret everything.”
In reply to Judge Gerald Keys, Garda Cosgrove said the woman didn’t make a formal complaint because she didn’t want Haugh sent back to jail.
Adjourned
Judge Keys said his inclination was not to revoke bail and adjourned the case for sentencing to November.
The judge warned Haugh: “Do not make contact with the victim. If you breach, that will be an aggravating factor when it comes to sentence.”
He remanded him on bail to reappear before the court on November 24th for sentencing.
