Woman held after tweets about victim

A woman who harassed the wife of a former colleague by sending her hundreds of offensive texts, calls, and tweets, has been remanded in custody after she again tweeted about her victim.

Gráinne O’Toole, aged 41, has been diagnosed with autism and obsessive persecution delusions, but is undergoing treatment.

O’Toole, of Willow Park Grove, Glasnevin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to harassment of Jennifer Doran between October 1, 2011, and February 2, 2012.

The court was told last year when evidence was heard O’Toole made over 310 abusive and threatening phone contacts by mobile and landline to Ms Doran, along with occasional tweets. During one month, the number of phone calls averaged 35 a day.

Judge Patrick McCartan had initially adjourned sentencing to October but the case was re-entered this month after O’Toole again began tweeting about Ms Doran.

Yesterday Judge McCartan remanded O’Toole in custody until October and directed she should not have access to electronic equipment, computers or phones. He said her medical treatment could continue while she was in custody.

Ms Doran, a marketing consultant, told the court yesterday that on April 23 and May 22, O’Toole tweeted about her a total of 17 times in a defamatory way to various recipients including business contacts and media outlets.

She also said that after the case was re-entered last week, O’Toole began screaming and shouting at her outside court.

Ms Doran told Judge McCartan that she was finding it difficult to deal with the stress and that O’Toole told her she would persecute her for the rest of her life.

“She is obviously not well, but I have done nothing to deserve this.”

Last year Judge McCartan said O’Toole had engaged in a “campaign of harassment” against an entirely innocent person which has adversely impacted on the private, business and personal lives of the victim, her husband and her parents.

He said the whole episode was grounded in the fact that the victim’s husband, who had been a supervisor of O’Toole’s in work, had showed some kindness towards her, “something she hasn’t experienced much in life”.

Cathal McGreal, defending, submitted O’Toole had difficulties in the past with knowing what she was doing was wrong but said that the current medical report before the court showed some progress towards remorse.

He referred to comments in the medical report outlining O’Toole knew what she was doing was wrong after she had acted impulsively.

Judge McCartan yesterday said Ms Doran is a victim deserving of the court’s comfort and protection, but on the other hand there was an accused person, O’Toole, who was “deeply ill”.

He said the only way he can deal with the accused until her course of treatment is complete is to remand her in custody and invite her doctor to continue her treatment there.