Judge dismisses phone harassment case against student

A student who admitted making a series of harassing phonecalls to his secondary school teacher had the case against him dismissed under the Probation of Offenders Act today.

The high-profile case involved defendant Karl Hudson (aged 20) of Tower Lodge, Blackrock, Cork harassing Presentation schoolteacher Patrick O'Shea by persistently phoning him with upsetting calls between February 17 and April 15 2000.

The background of the case was that a number of students got the teacher's mobile number and rang it as a prank.

However, Hudson, who did not have a good relationship with the teacher, took it further and made a series of phonecalls to Mr O'Shea which caused him serious upset.

Today at Cork District Court, Judge Leo Malone said he thought the case had been very fairly met by the defendant and he was prepared to apply the Probation of Offenders Act, which leaves Hudson without a conviction after his name.

The case had been adjourned several times, for reports to be prepared on the defendant and for the judge to give the matter further consideration.

Judge Malone said he was extremely impressed by today's evidence from Dr Tony Humphreys, the well-known consultant psychologist, who lectures in UCC.

"He (the defendant) very much regrets the pain he has caused to Mr O'Shea. Many people mature after a crisis. Some people don't, but Karl certainly has," Dr Humphreys said, adding that he was utterly convinced the defendant would not reoffend.

The Pres teacher, Mr O'Shea, previously described how the calls had a devastating effect on his health and on his life and that he had to stop teaching because of the upset.

Solicitor Ernest Cantillon said the defendant had hoped to join the Gardai and was now working in the hairdressing business.

He said that pillars of the community had spoken up for the defendant, expressing their belief that the defendant would never be in trouble again.