Woman breaks down as she recalls disturbing texts

Bizarre and disturbing texts were sent to a young woman in Cork referring to things in her personal life, such as her engagement, her home address and reference to a knife.

The woman broke down in tears in the witness box at Cork District Court as she recalled the texts she received from a stranger over a four-month period in 2013.

Kevin Mallon, aged 44, of 31 St Bernard’s Place, Fermoy, Co Cork, failed to appear in court yesterday to answer charges case against him.

Judge Olann Kelleher convicted Mallon, in his absence, of harassment. The judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest before sentencing.

The charge on which he was convicted stated that between March 26 and July 28, 2013, he harassed a named woman, contrary to the Non-fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Detective Garda Deirdre Murphy gave details of some of the texts sent. She said the young woman did not know the accused and had no connection with him.

One of the texts read: “Gangsters myself Kevin Mallow received no letter with addresses. When I get address I will bring along my card 9.7.13 and a rostock knife.”

Det Garda Murphy said the texts were bizarre and reference to the knife was particularly troubling for the young victim. Texts also made it clear the person sending them knew where she worked, the name of at least one of her colleagues and where her mother worked.

The officer, in response to a question from the judge, said Mallon appeared to have picked the woman randomly.

Answering Inspector Ronan Kenneally, prosecuting, the victim said: “The messages went on for quite a few months. They were uninvited and persistent. I found them threatening. There was a reference to a knife. I found that deeply worrying.

“We got cameras on the house. We got a dog. My husband stopped working. I did not know this man. Even today it is quite upsetting to hear the messages.”