Courts / Cork / Report
Mum fails in bid to set aside plea of guilty to harassing doctor
Summary
In November 2023 the Court of Appeal rejected a mother's attempt to set aside her guilty plea for harassing a doctor at Temple Street Hospital. Marlies Walsh, 51, had pleaded guilty in 2022 to one count of harassment after repeatedly contacting the doctor by phone and email between 2017 and 2020 while her son awaited a kidney transplant. She argued that she was under duress and that her lawyers had given ineffective assistance, but the appeal court found no evidence of coercion or inadequate representation. The court noted that Walsh had been under significant stress but had understood the implications of her plea. The judge also dismissed her claim that the Garda investigation was flawed, stating that such matters were for trial. Walsh will appeal the severity of her suspended two‑year sentence at a later hearing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Mum fails in bid to set aside plea of guilty to harassing doctor. Charges or matters: harassing the doctor in 2018 and 2019 and was given a fully-suspended two-year sentence; one count of harassment at Temple Street Hospital, Dublin. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- December 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 2018 Other
- August 14, 2018 Other
- 2018 and 2019 Other
- 2023-11-30 Publication
Why: She also argued that the investigation into her offending was flawed because no recording was made of an interview she gave to gardai. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: harassing the doctor in 2018 and 2019 and was given a fully-suspended two-year sentence; one count of harassment at Temple Street Hospital, Dublin (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: In November last year, Ms Walsh pleaded guilty to harassing the doctor in 2018 and 2019 and was given a fully-suspended two-year sentence. Judge Sheahan imposed a two-year sentence, which she suspended on strict conditions.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Temple Street
- Temple Street Hospital
- Temple Street
Topics
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