A man who drove a car into the reception doors at RTÉ studios, causing €14,000 damage, has been given a two-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and ordered to stay away from RTÉ employees.
Paul Stokes (52) of Montpelier Parade, Monkstown pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage on December 2nd, 2006 and causing a substantial risk of death or serious injury.
A nolle prosequi was entered by the State earlier on a further charge that Stokes harassed RTÉ presenter Pat Kenny. Garda Joseph Callahan told Caroline Biggs, prosecuting, that he feared Stokes would try to contact RTÉ employees after his release, specifically Pat Kenny, his family and his home.
Judge Desmond Hogan imposed a two-year sentence and suspended the last 12 months but gave liberty to re-enter the matter for activation of the suspended portion should Stokes breach the conditions.
Judge Hogan ordered him to enter a bond "not to annoy, molest or interfere with in any way, employees of RTÉ, those contracted to RTÉ or their families". He also ordered him to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years and to liaise with the Probation Service in relation to post-release psychiatric treatment.
Seán Gillane, defending, said his client was "very, very sick" at the time of the offences, having developed a fixation on road safety and felt his ideas were being ignored.
Garda Callahan said Stokes had been a "gentleman" in custody and had been co-operative in relation to the criminal damage but had not accepted that he had endangered anybody.