Courts / Waterford / Report
Ex-teacher who waged poison pen campaign against gardai is re-sentenced
Summary
In a re‑sentencing hearing, the Court of Appeal found that the Circuit Court had been misinformed about the maximum penalty for Lee Hutchinson, a 41‑year‑old former teacher from Coxtown West, Dunmore East, Waterford. Hutchinson had carried out a four‑year poison‑pen campaign against three Gardaí, sending anonymous handwritten letters with spurious allegations of misconduct, corruption and sexual impropriety to the officers, their families and superiors. The letters were forwarded to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, which deemed the claims unfounded. Hutchinson's original six‑year sentence, with the final year suspended, was quashed because the judge had been told the maximum was ten years instead of the correct seven. The Court of Appeal imposed a new sentence of seven years, with the final two years suspended, to be served consecutively for the three counts of harassment.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Ex-teacher who waged poison pen campaign against gardai is re-sentenced. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- May 1, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 21, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-10-21 Publication
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Waterford
- Waterford Circuit Court
Topics
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