€22k for harassment by debt collector

A High Court judge has ordered a debt collector to pay €22,500 damages to a Dublin woman over his “deplorable conduct” towards her in seeking to collect a disputed debt for a building contractor.

Mr Justice Gerard Hogan found Deirdre Sullivan, of Clontarf, was harassed by debt collector Patrick McCartan, Greenbank Solutions, Rathgannon, Warrenpoint, Co Down, and she was entitled to damages.

Mr McCartan “outrageously violated” Ms Sullivan’s constitutional rights by engaging in “deplorable conduct” and behaviour which cannot be tolerated “in a civilised society”, the judge said. He said Mr McCartan’s conduct was “persistent, premeditated, unyielding, and oppressive”.