Courts / Dublin / Report
Mentally ill man 'destroyed' barrister's peace of mind with years of harassment
Summary
A 53‑year‑old man, Eoghan Peavoy, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment against a barrister between February 2019 and August 2022. He sent a series of increasingly threatening, vulgar and sexually suggestive text messages, emails, voicemails and WhatsApp messages, including threats of violence and claims of fantasies about killing the victim and her children. He also contacted the victim's father, colleagues and other family members. The victim described living in fear, having to print photos of the man for her childminder and removing her work website to protect herself. Peavoy, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been involuntarily detained under the Mental Health Act multiple times. At sentencing, a judge imposed a five‑year prison term suspended on strict conditions, directing him to take prescribed medication, remain in inpatient care if discharged, and have no contact with the victim or her family for five years and thereafter.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Mentally ill man 'destroyed' barrister's peace of mind with years of harassment. Charges or matters: two counts of harassment of the woman on dates between February 8, 2019, and August 23, 2022. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 8, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 23, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2019 Incident
- February 13, 2019 Incident
- February 22 Other
- March 2021 Other
- April 4, 2021 Incident
- November 2021 Incident
- February 3, 2022 Incident
- August 2022 Other
- January 2023 Other
- 2005 to 2009 Other
- 2019 and 2021 Incident
- 2011 and 2018 Other
- 2024-03-08 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: two counts of harassment of the woman on dates between February 8, 2019, and August 23, 2022 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He imposed a five-year prison sentence and suspended it on strict conditions. He further ordered Peavoy to have no contact with the victim, her family, or friends for the five-year period of the suspended sentence and in perpetuity afterwards.
Places mentioned
- Brackenwood Avenue
- Balbriggan
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Beaumont Hospital
Topics
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