This article is from page 8 of the 2012-05-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
A MAN has received a four-month prison sentence for sending a series of “vile and vicious” text messages to his former landlady.
Colm Quigley (39), with an address at 1 Steele’s Terrace, Ennis, pleaded guilty to offences contrary to the postal and telecommunications act at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.
The court heard that on October 17 (2011) Mr Quigley sent eight offensive and threatening text messages to Carmel Corbett.
One of the messages read, “Pick out your headstone, you’ll be dead shortly.”
The accused also told Ms Corbett “Watch your back. I know where you are.”
Another text message made a threatening reference to Ms Corbett’s daughter. Inspector Tom Kennedy explained that Ms Corbett had rented accommodation in Drumcliff to Mr Quigley who had now left. He said there was some dispute as to whether this was amicable or not.
He said that Mr Quigley sent the messages after leaving the accommodation.
Insp Kennedy described the messages as “quite nasty and unsavory.”
The matter was reported to gardaí on October 19 and the messages were subsequently traced back to Mr Quigley.
The court heard that he admitted sending the messages to gardaí.
Insp Kennedy said, “He was very intoxicated when he sent them. He was very apologetic. He told the guards that not a million years would he normally do it.”
He added, “The victim was very disturbed and was concerned about going out on her own.”
Solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client, who lived in the house for two years, had carried out work to the property after previously being told that it would be brought up to a certain standard.
He said Mr Quigley had arrived back to the property to find the locks had been changed.
Mr Hassett said his client was upset and sent the messages from the pub.
He added, “He made no level or at- tempt to disguise his identification.”
The court heard that Mr Quigley wrote a letter of apology to the victim.
Mr Hassett said, “Its something he will be ashamed of until his dying days.”
Judge Patrick Durcan said he regarded the offence as a “very serious matter.”
He said, “This was a case where a person uses modern technology to mentally violate somebody.” He said the messages were of a “vile and viscous nature.”
He imposed a four month prison sentence and fined Mr Quigley € 800.
Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.