Courts / Westmeath / Report
Man who harassed woman and made threats to kill gets suspended sentence
Summary
Peter McCormack, 59, of Ballinakill, Moate, pleaded guilty to harassing Mary Farrell, a woman he met on Plenty of Fish, between March and September 2020. He made threats to kill her, left voicemails, sent flowers, and placed a €1,000 cheque in her letterbox. He also damaged a Garda cell by smearing blood on the walls. The court heard that his harassment decreased during early pandemic restrictions but resumed in August 2020, culminating in his arrest on 9 September 2020. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a concurrent sentence of two years and eight months, suspended in full for five years and six months, with conditions that McCormack must not contact Farrell, must continue psychiatric treatment, and must allow his doctors to notify Gardaí if he fails to comply. The sentence was suspended to protect the victim. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who harassed woman and made threats to kill gets suspended sentence. Charges or matters: harassing Mary Farrell between March and September 2020, and making threats to kill and criminal damage of a cell in the garda station on September 9, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 9, 2020 Incident
- December 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 23 Incident
- 2022-01-25 Publication
Why: She said she was suspending the sentence for a significant length of time in order to ensure the protection of the victim. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: harassing Mary Farrell between March and September 2020, and making threats to kill and criminal damage of a cell in the garda station on September 9, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Sheahan imposed concurrent sentences totally two years and eight months but suspended them in full for five years and six months. The sentence was suspended on various conditions including that McCormack not make any contact with the victim by any means either by messaging, calls or going to her home or work place.; He said McCormack had witnessed "lots of violence" during his brief stay in prison while he was remanded in custody and that it had been "eye-opening".
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- cell in the garda station
- at the garda station
- was brought to the garda station
- God's Hospital
Topics
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