Courts / Dublin / Report
Autistic woman who harassed former colleague's wife gets suspended sentence
Summary
Grainne O'Toole, 42, received a suspended two‑year jail sentence after pleading guilty to harassing Jennifer Doran, the wife of a former colleague, between 1 October 2011 and 2 February 2012. O'Toole sent more than 310 abusive texts, calls and tweets, averaging 35 calls a day during a month. She had worked for Meridian VAT International in Tallaght, where her supervisor Colm Doran had a meeting with her over personnel matters. After resigning, O'Toole became fixated on Mr Doran and, more specifically, on his wife, whom she had never met. Diagnosed with autism and obsessive persecution delusions, she tweeted about Doran again in July 2014 and was remanded in custody. In October 2014, Judge Patrick McCartan granted bail and adjourned the sentence for one year to allow treatment and continued college studies, warning that a re‑offence would lead to imprisonment.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Autistic woman who harassed former colleague's wife gets suspended sentence. Charges or matters: harassing Ms Doran between October 1, 2011 and February 2, 2012. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 1, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 2014 Adjournment
- October 2014 Adjournment
- 2015-10-29 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: harassing Ms Doran between October 1, 2011 and February 2, 2012 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Photo: Collins) An autistic woman who harassed a former colleague's wife has been given a suspended sentence after the court accepted she had ceased contacting her victim. In October 2014 Judge Patrick McCartan granted bail and adjourned the sentence for one year to allow O'Toole to get treatment and to continue her college studies, warning that she would be sent to prison if she reoffended.; O'Toole, who was diagnosed with autism and obsessive persecution delusions, again tweeted about her victim in July 2014 and was remanded in custody as a result.
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