Garda admits harassing former girlfriend

A suspended Garda has pleaded guilty to harassing his former girlfriend over a nine month period.

41-year-old Austin Woods, with addresses in Nethin Road, Dublin and Hackballscross in Co Louth, was electronically monitored by the Gardai to stop him contacting the victim, Collette Johnston.

Woods was stationed in Finglas when he began a relationship with Ms Johnston, who ran a pub in Granard, Co Longford.

The relationship broke up after six to 12 months, when she became concerned about her boyfriend's behaviour.

Woods wanted to rekindle the relationship, and he began pestering her with phone calls - with sometimes over 50 calls a day.

A barring order was granted but the calls, numbering about 400 between June 1999 and March 2000 continued.

Woods was charged with harassment but when he breached his bail conditions, the court ordered he be electronically monitored using a mobile phone provided by the Garda Technical Bureau.

Today, he pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment and he will be sentenced later today.