A man who harassed his young daughter's foster-parents was ordered by a judge yesterday to stay away from them and their home or face a nine-month prison term.
John and Catherine Costigan told Midleton Court in Co Cork that Christopher Hendley (50) had called to their home at Mill Road, Midleton, and shouted abuse through the letter box.
Mrs Costigan said that Hendley telephoned her on one occasion and accused her and her husband of kidnapping his daughter.
Mr Costigan said that he feared for his own life and for the lives of his wife and foster-daughter.
Insp Liam Hayes told the court at the outset of the case that the Costigans had fostered nine-year-old Emma since she was a baby.
Hendley, an English national now living in Oldcastle, Dripsey, Co Cork, told the court that he never intended frightening the Costigans but called to their house only to deliver Christmas, Easter and birthday presents to his daughter and to catch a glimpse of her if possible.
Judge Gerard Haughton convicted Hendley of harassing the Costigans between April 13th and May 3rd last year. Told that Hendley had previous convictions in England dating back to 1964, including three for serious assault, the judge said that this made the case more serious. He sentenced Hendley to nine months' imprisonment, suspended for three years, and ordered him to stay away from the Costigans and not to go within a mile of their home for a period of five years.