A Co Longford man has been given a five-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to harassing a Fine Gael Senator.
David Larkin, of Ardnacassa Lawns Co Longford, made threats against Senator Micheál Carrigy and his family, on dates between 20 December 2021 and 14 February 2022.
At Longford District Court today, Judge Bernadette Owens imposed a five-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months and on Larkin's own bond of €250.
Last January, Senator Carrigy told the court about how he feared for his family's safety after receiving a string of text messages threatening him, his wife and their children.
In a victim impact statement, he said a direct threat was made to his children in one text message, while another was made against his home.
The court heard how Larkin sent text messages and Facebook posts to Mr Carrigy, along with one voicemail left on his phone.
Garda Sergeant Mark Mahon told the court Senator Carrigy took "extreme exception" that a direct threat was made against his children and had a "serious issue" with threats made against his home.
Judge Owens said she had noted evidence outlined in court today and on previous dates.
She said the accused’s engagement with the Probation Service had been "somewhat problematic", but that it had improved in recent months.
He had entered a guilty plea in October 2022 and had come before the court with no previous convictions.
She said that if Larkin did not continue to engage with the Probation Service and mental health services, then the matter would be reactivated.
In his victim impact statement earlier this year, Mr Carrigy said: "Both my wife and I are hard-working citizens of the State who pay our taxes.
"We are entitled to live our lives without having been threatened, but most importantly we should not have the burden of having to worry about our children when they are in their own home, their school or at other activities.
"A direct threat was made against my children. This cannot be accepted in our society.
"A direct threat was made against my home. This cannot be accepted in our society."
Defending solicitor Frank Gearty told the court that his client had made "considerable progress" in recent months, as evidenced by probation and psychiatric reports presented to Judge Owens.
He said his client wanted to repeat his apology, along with an assurance that such a matter would never happen again.
Judge Owens acceded to a request from the State that Larkin not communicate by any means, with or about Senator Carrigy, for a period of five years.
He has also been ordered not to approach within 1km of the injured party’s home for five years and must not enter streets adjacent to Senator Carrigy’s office in Co Longford for a period of two years.
Speaking afterwards, Senator Carrigy said he felt that he had to take a stand against the harassment he had been subjected to.
He said he was frustrated by the length of time it took to bring the case to a conclusion, but that he hoped it would encourage other public representatives, who were being subjected to similar treatment to come forward and report it to gardaí.
Earlier, the court heard that Larkin's solicitor had been instructed to enter a guilty plea in relation to another charge, relating to offences alleged to have taken place, on 18 and 19 January 2022.
Garda Sergeant Mark Mahon told Judge Owens that in light of the plea, he would need some time to canvass a victim impact statement from the person involved in that case.
The matter was adjourned until January for further mention.
