Man spied on former lover with binoculars

A man prompted by unrequited love to spy on a woman’s home was yesterday given an eight-month suspended jail sentence.

Judge John Coughlan imposed that term on William O’Sullivan, aged 58, of 8 Barrett’s Buildings, Gurranabraher, Cork, at Cork District Court.

O’Sullivan pleaded guilty to a charge of harassing the woman on dates between November 6 2013, and July 23 2014. The Director of Public Prosecutions directed that if he did not plead guilty at the district court, the case would have to go to trial by judge and jury.

Det Garda David Hickey arrested and charged O’Sullivan yesterday and the man pleaded guilty on his first court appearance.

Judge Coughan made it a condition of the suspension that O’Sullivan would have no contact, directly or indirectly, with the 53-year-old woman, who is from a Cork suburb. The judge told Det Garda Hickey if there was any recurrence of the harassment, O’Sullivan should be arrested and brought back to court immediately.

Det Garda Hickey told the court that O’Sullivan and the woman had been in a relationship for four years until it ended it July 2013.

She became aware of him watching her with binoculars. She saw him one time from the rear window of her home looking in with binoculars. On that occasion, he followed her into town. When she confronted him in town she saw he had the binoculars on the dashboard of his car.

He apologised and said he wanted her back. However, he also sent her emails and letters which were, on one hand, intimidating and threatening and apologetic on the other, said Det Garda Hickey, adding that the woman was in fear of him.

She made a complaint and gardaí met O’Sullivan in her housing estate. He initially denied watching her but then admitted it and said it would not happen again.

After another complaint to gardaí, Det Sgt Tim Murphy and Det Garda James Bugler met O’Sullivan coming out of her estate.

He was arrested and questioned on August 21 but did not co-operate. There was further contact since then.

Donal Daly solicitor, said O’Sullivan had given an undertaking that the contact was going to stop.

“It was a case of unrequited love,” said Mr Daly. “He had done his level best to win her back but the lady was not for turning.”