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'Obsessed' neighbour subjected couple to 'years of abuse'
Summary
Anna Byrne and Coleman Byrne, neighbours in Dublin 6, accused Arjita Chawla (54) of repeated harassment and abuse from 2011 to 2021. Chawla, who lived next door, repeatedly called the Byrnes derogatory names, blocked their cars, sent over 600 complaint emails, recorded them on video, and left dog faeces at their doorstep. She also called Gardaí on them more than 100 times, including on Christmas Eve. Chawla pleaded guilty to two counts of threatening or abusive words or behaviour. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to one month in prison on each count, to run concurrently, and imposed a 15‑year restriction preventing her from approaching the Byrnes' address within 100 metres. The court noted her guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors. The case was described as an unusual escalation from neighbourly dispute to sustained harassment.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Obsessed' neighbour subjected couple to 'years of abuse'. Charges or matters: two counts of engaging in threatening or abusive words or behaviour against her two next-door neighbours, Coleman Byrne and Anna Byrne, on dates between February 28, 2011, and July 26, 2021. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 28, 2011 Other
- July 26, 2021 Other
- May 22, 2019 Other
- Christmas Eve Other
- 2023-02-24 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: two counts of engaging in threatening or abusive words or behaviour against her two next-door neighbours, Coleman Byrne and Anna Byrne, on dates between February 28, 2011, and July 26, 2021 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan said Chawla "became obsessed with her neighbours". He said he felt Chawla should undergo a custodial sentence and he sentenced her to one month in prison on each of the two counts, which he ordered to run concurrently.
Applicant
Charges: two counts of engaging in threatening or abusive words or behaviour against her two next-door neighbours, Coleman Byrne and Anna Byrne, on dates between February 28, 2011, and July 26, 2021 (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Christmas Eve – video recorded them, sent over 600 emails of complaint about them and left dog faeces on their doorstep has been jailed for a month.
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