Dog warden told he would be shot
At Ennis District Court, Insp Tom Kennedy said that it will also be alleged that Eoin Hannan, of Kilrush Rd, Ennis, Co Clare, made hundreds of phone calls to Frankie Coote, Clare’s dog warden, over a weekend in September 2012.
Insp Kennedy said Mr Coote will allege in court that over the phone, Mr Hannan “threatened to blind me, threatened to shoot me in the leg, and that I would have a limp”.
Giving an outline of the facts to allow Judge Patrick Durcan to see if he will hear the case or transfer it to the circuit court, Insp Kennedy said the calls began on Friday, September 21, 2012.
Insp Kennedy said Mr Coote began receiving calls from Mr Hannan at 9.30am “and Mr Coote said that the calls were threatening and abusive towards him”.
Insp Kennedy said the purpose of Mr Hannan’s calls was querying “the legislation that allowed Mr Coote to take a dog” from him.
Insp Kennedy added that Mr Hannan made 100 calls to Mr Coote’s work mobile phone on the Friday and made hundreds more phone calls to Mr Coote.
The inspector said that Mr Coote had to turn his phone off over the weekend due to the volume of calls.
Insp Kennedy said the calls from Mr Hannan deteriorated, ending up with Mr Hannan threatening to blind and shoot Mr Coote in the leg.
Last week, Mr Coote received national prominence in connection with his role in the discovery of horse carcasses on a cliff edge in west Clare.
After hearing an outline of the State case against Mr Hannan, Judge Durcan said he would accept jurisdiction.
Daragh Hassett, for Mr Hannan, said his client would be fully contesting the charges.
Mr Hannan is charged with harassing Mr Coote on dates between September 21 and September 26, 2012.
He is also charged with persistently making use of telecommunications systems for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, and anxiety to another.
Mr Hannan was remanded on bail to reappear before Ennis District Court on June 11.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
