Courts / Dublin / Report
Woman who sent obscene messages to President now admits harassing priest
Summary
Anne Fennell, a 57‑year‑old Dublin woman, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of harassing Fr Desmond Byrne by telephone on 8 October 2006 and between 5 October 2005 and 10 January 2006. She also admitted to sending obscene phone messages threatening to bomb President Michael D Higgins and several ministers. The court heard that she had called the president a "ladyboy" and threatened that he and "Sabrina Higgins" would be buried in plastic bags if they entered England. She made repeated bomb threats in April and October 2014, prompting a search of the area around Dáil Éireann on 18 November 2014. Fennell had her sentence for the obscene messages adjourned to allow her to continue psychological therapy. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the harassment hearing to July, remanded her on continuing bail and ordered a victim impact statement.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Woman who sent obscene messages to President now admits harassing priest. Charges or matters: two counts of harassing Fr Desmond Byrne by any means including telephone at Woodford Drive, Clondalkin on October 8, 2006 and between October 5, 2005 and January 10, 2006; 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: sentence
When:
- October 8, 2006 Adjournment
- October 5, 2005 Adjournment
- January 10, 2006 Adjournment
- April 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 18, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2 Adjournment
- December 1, 2014 Adjournment
- 2016-01-20 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: two counts of harassing Fr Desmond Byrne by any means including telephone at Woodford Drive, Clondalkin on October 8, 2006 and between October 5, 2005 and January 10, 2006; 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: Last week, Fennell had her sentence for sending obscene phone messages adjourned so she could continue with her psychological therapy. Today Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the harassment sentence hearing until July and remanded Fennell on continuing bail.; Last week, Fennell had her sentence for sending obscene phone messages adjourned so she could continue with her psychological therapy.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Woodford Drive
Topics
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