A Waterford garda has been given a three-year suspended prison sentence for harassing his pregnant wife's colleague and stealing two pieces of her underwear.
Father-of-two Anthony Fennelly, 39, was found guilty by a jury in February of harassing 28-year-old Amanda Cox in November 2003 and stealing the underwear from her washing line.
He once placed leaflets in phone boxes around Waterford city advertising Ms Cox as a prostitute, the court was told. She subsequently received a number of gross phone calls from men looking for sex.
As a result of his behaviour, Fennelly, who lives in Tramore, is losing his job as a garda.
He has been bound over to keep the peace for five years on his undertaking not to attend any place where the victim resides, works or frequents and not to go within 100 yards of her.
Judge Alice Doyle said the crimes were premeditated and planned and took time to set up.
The judge said they were carried out by a person in authority who was a member of An Garda Síochána.
She said that it was not only a breach of position but also an abuse of trust, adding that as a member of the gardaí the accused man knew his actions were illegal and amounted to serious misconduct.
During the case Judge Doyle said there had not been one word of remorse or apology.
She said it was depraved behaviour and that the acts of harassment warranted a long term of imprisonment.
The court heard that Fennelly's wife Shirley is standing by him. Fennelly, who suffers from clinical depression, was in court with his wife. His defence said he knew he had gravely wronged Ms Cox and understood that she may still be severely affected.
Amanda Cox was not in court.
