A 36-YEAR-OLD Co Clare man yesterday pleaded guilty to the harassment of a Dublin-based property manager.
At Killaloe District Court, James Treacy of Meanross, Scariff, Co Clare gave an undertaking not to have any further direct or indirect contact with Edward Lyons.
Mr Treacy pleaded guilty to harassing Mr Lyons on a date unknown between November 1st, 2009, and July 8th, 2010, at Moynoe, Scariff, Co Clare, contrary to section 10 (1) and (6) of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
Insp John O’Sullivan said Mr Lyons initially employed Mr Treacy at his property firm in Dublin. Insp O’Sullivan said Mr Treacy was a student at the time, and Mr Lyons terminated his employment after Mr Treacy did not turn up to work for one week.
Insp O’Sullivan said Mr Treacy kept in touch with Mr Lyons afterwards as he felt he was owed money. He said Mr Treacy found out where Mr Lyons lived, and telephone calls made by Mr Treacy to Mr Lyons became “more serious”.
The inspector said Mr Treacy sent e-mails and text messages to Mr Lyons, and “the ongoing harassment continued with Mr Treacy threatening to put a picket on Mr Lyons’s home”.
He said Mr Lyons made a complaint to the Garda over Mr Treacy’s behaviour, but did not wish to appear in court and indicated he was happy Mr Treacy would give an undertaking not to have any further contact with him.
Mr Treacy’s solicitor, William Loughnane, said his client had a history of psychiatric illness.
Mr Loughnane said Mr Treacy was under the care of psychiatric services and meets a consultant on a monthly basis in Liverpool, where he is studying international business at the University of Liverpool. He said: “The man is very sorry, judge.”
Mr Loughnane confirmed Mr Treacy had previously been granted an auctioneering licence by the court. He said Mr Treacy’s parents were very supportive of him and his studies. He added Mr Treacy would give an undertaking not to have any direct or indirect with Mr Lyons.
Judge Mangan imposed the order for Mr Treacy to have no further contact with Mr Lyons, and fined Mr Treacy €100.
