Courts / Dublin / Report
Man jailed for "insidious and frightening" harassment of woman
Summary
John Behan, aged 53, was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment for harassing Patricia Buckley, the manager of a Paddy Powers Bookmakers branch in Edenmore, Dublin, from September 2014 to March 2016. The court heard that Behan subjected Buckley to "almost daily terror," threatening her, abusing her in the store and on the street, and forcing her to be escorted to her car. He had previously been convicted of assaulting Buckley by throwing a bottle, for which he received a five‑month sentence in May 2017. Behan pleaded guilty, expressed remorse, and said he now understood the harm he caused. Judge Martin Nolan described the harassment as persistent, serious and insidious, imposed a three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence with the final year suspended, and ordered Behan to avoid Buckley's home and workplace for 15 years. The court also noted that Buckley had suffered panic attacks, sleep deprivation and heart palpitations as a result of the harassment.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man jailed for "insidious and frightening" harassment of woman. Charges or matters: harassment of Patricia Buckley at the Edenmore branch of Paddy Powers Bookmakers on dates between September 2014 and March 2016. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 2015 Other
- March 22, 2016 Incident
- July 2016 Incident
- 2017-11-15 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: harassment of Patricia Buckley at the Edenmore branch of Paddy Powers Bookmakers on dates between September 2014 and March 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He said he did not believe that Behan did not know what he was doing. "It seems to me he deserves a custodial sentence," he said. Judge Nolan imposed a three and a half year sentence and suspended the final year on strict conditions.
Places mentioned
Topics
Harassment Stalking Stage Sentence
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