Courts / Dublin / Report
"Lonely" woman threatened to bomb President if he visited England, court hears
Summary
A 57‑year‑old Dublin woman, Anne Fennell, pleaded guilty to making persistent obscene and menacing phone calls to the President, the Department of Finance, the European Commission, An Post and several TDs between February and December 2014. She threatened to bomb President Michael D Higgins if he visited England, and also threatened bombs and bullets at other officials, including the Environment Minister and TDs. Fennell, a former An Post worker, claimed she was lonely and that her threats were "just words". She had no prior convictions and lived alone in poor conditions, reportedly in a sleeping bag in a bottom room of her house. The court remanded her on continuing bail to July, allowing her to continue psychological therapy and engage with probation services, and ordered a welfare report to explore pro‑social support structures. The judge noted her isolation as a key factor in her offending.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "Lonely" woman threatened to bomb President if he visited England, court hears. Charges or matters: making persistent annoying phone calls and sending obscene or menacing phone messages to Aras an Uachtarain, the Department of Finance, the European Commission Representation, An Post Dublin Mail Centre and the constituency offices of TDs Alan Kelly, Aodhan O Riordain and Noel Coonan between February 2 and December 1, 2014. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- April 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 18, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2 Incident
- December 1, 2014 Incident
- February 26, 2014 Other
- November 17 Other
- December 2014 Other
- November 2014 Other
- 2016-01-15 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: making persistent annoying phone calls and sending obscene or menacing phone messages to Aras an Uachtarain, the Department of Finance, the European Commission Representation, An Post Dublin Mail Centre and the constituency offices of TDs Alan Kelly, Aodhan O Riordain and Noel Coonan between February 2 and December 1, 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She remanded Fennell on continuing bail to July so she could continue with her psychological therapy and engage with the probation services.
Places mentioned
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