Man avoids jail over ‘bizarre’ blackmail

An energy therapist who carried out a bizarre campaign of blackmail against his sister-in-law and her husband wrote an apology to them while remanded in custody for the past week.

Pat O’Dwyer, aged 53, of 2, Wolfetone Place, Thurles, Co Tipperary, got a three-year suspended sentence yesterday. Judge David Riordan said: “He has seen the inside of a prison and knows what it means to disobey a court order.”

The sentence was suspended on condition he stay under probation service for two years and attend at a psychiatric facility recommended by the service. He is further required not to go within 5km of the injured parties’ home or workplace and have no contact direct or indirect with them.