Anne Fennell sentencing adjourned until July

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Anne Fennell’s sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was adjourned, and Judge Melanie Greally continued her bail until July. The proceedings were reported on 15 January 2016.

She pleaded guilty to persistent annoying phone calls and to sending phone messages that were obscene or menacing. The recipients were Aras an Uachtarain and the Department of Finance; the European Commission Representation and An Post Dublin Mail Centre; and the constituency offices of Alan Kelly, Aodhan O Riordain and Noel Coonan, all TDs. The offences ran from 2 February to 1 December 2014. She had no previous convictions.

The court heard that her bomb threat prompted a search around Dáil Éireann on 18 November 2014. Superintendent Michael Cryan described calls threatening Alan Kelly and his family on 17, 18 and 19 November 2014. He told prosecutor Elva Duffy BL that Kelly increased security because of those calls.

Cryan said Fennell apologised after gardaí traced the calls to her mobile phone and arrested her. She told officers that television news had prompted her calls, that she felt lonely and that the threats were only words. Questioned by defence counsel Kevin White BL, Cryan agreed she lived alone in severe poverty and lacked the resources or knowledge to carry out the threats. White said she profoundly regretted her conduct, offered no excuse and should have an opportunity for rehabilitation.

The adjournment allowed Fennell to continue psychological therapy and work with probation services. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a probation and welfare report examining what support could help her lead a more socially connected life, having linked her offending to isolation.