An ambulance paramedic who pleaded guilty to the harassment of a female colleague after she discovered an iPhone recording in video mode in the toilets of an ambulance base is to pay his victim €5,000.
Judge Elizabeth Mac Grath insisted the offer of compensation from the defendant would not influence her decision when considering the appropriate penalty and acknowledged there is often public disquiet that compensation can "buy your way out of problems in court".
Robert Murphy (51), Lissanalta Grove, Dooradoyle, Limerick, placed the mobile phone in a box of gloves with holes in it, on the windowsill of the unisex toilet at the ambulance base in Tyone, Co Tipperary, on May 5th last year.
Judge MacGrath adjourned the case until October 18th next and said she wanted an updated probation report.
The father of three who pleaded guilty at Nenagh District Court to a charge of harassment was confronted about the matter by a female colleague.