This article is from page 15 of the 2012-07-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
A MAN who has pleaded guilty to harassing his former partner sent her a text message stating her new boyfriend would be “breathing through a tube” when he finished with him, a court has heard.
Ray Clune (37), with an address at Breafa West, Lissycasey, pleaded guilty to harassment and to contravening a safety order at a named Ennis address on dates between January 20 (2012) and February 4 (2012).
Details of the offences were heard at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.
Inspector Tom Kennedy said that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the matters.
After hearing an outline of the facts of the case, Judge Patrick Durcan accepted jurisdiction.
Solicitor John Casey told the court that his client would be entering a plea of guilty.
Inspector Kennedy told the court that a woman made a complaint to gardaí after receiving a number of phone calls and text messages of a threatening nature.
He said the woman’s phone received 30 missed calls on January 21 and a further eight missed calls on February 4.
He said the woman had not answered the phone calls.
Insp Kennedy said the calls were followed by text messages containing remarks about her new partner.
Insp Kennedy told the court that the messages included threats that the man “would be breathing out of a tube” and “would end up in a body bag.”
Approximately 20 text messages were sent in total to the woman’s phone, the court heard.
Insp Kennedy said that Mr Clune was completely “cooperative and apologetic” when met by gardaí.
“No new complaints about the accused have been made,” he added.
Mr Casey handed in a doctor’s report explaining that his client suffers from depression.
He said at the time the offences were committed, Mr Clune “was drinking very heavily, 24/7, and this sparked something in him.”
Mr Casey added, “He knows that she has moved on and he has moved on and he accepts it.”
“He apologises unreservedly. She did not deserve this. She did nothing”, he said.
Mr Casey said his client had lost his job and had recently found it difficult to get meaningful employment. Mr Clune has no previous convictions.
Judge Durcan acknowledged that Mr Clune had experienced a number of difficulties in his personal life. However, he said that the accused had breached a court order and had harassed his former partner.
He remanded Mr Clune on continuing bail to appear again on November 7 for finalisation of sentence. He granted the State liberty to re-enter the matter at 24-hour notice. He said if Mr Clune’s good behavior continues, then the matter will be disposed