Man made 60 silent calls to ex in 24 hours

A man who made 60 silent phonecalls to his ex-partner in Cork in a 24-hour period pleaded guilty yesterday to a harassment charge.

Keith Murphy, 33, of St Clare’s House, Moyne Road, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, was before Cork District Court yesterday facing the harassment charge.

He pleaded guilty.

Inspector Bill Duane said on July 6 to July 7, 2014, the accused made 58 silent calls to the woman’s mobile phone and two similar calls to the landline at her home in Douglas. She made a written complaint of harassment to the gardaí.

Enquiries established the calls had come from a mobile phone registered to Keith Murphy. Gardaí went to his home in Enniscorthy and questioned him over the allegation that he was harassing his ex-partner on the date. At that stage he admitted ownership of the phone but denied making the calls.

Defence solicitor Emmet Boyle said though denial was initially made he pleaded guilty to the offence at the earliest possible time when it came before Cork District Court.

Mr Boyle said the accused and the woman were in a relationship for two-and-a-half years. It ended acrimoniously. The solicitor said many of the calls on July 6 and 7 were made when the woman was asleep.

He has since deleted all contacts he had for her — email and phone number.

On the day he made the calls he was on anti-depressants and was drinking and feeling quite melancholic.

Judge Leo Malone said: “ I am going to ask for the probation service to get involved which I think might benefit Mr Murphy as well.”

Sentencing was adjourned for that purpose for two months on the charge of harassment under the Non-fatal Offences Against the Person Act. The judge ordered him to have no contact with the woman directly or indirectly in the interim.