Stalker behind bars after harrassing terrified ex-partner
NINE-MONTH TERM GARDA PRESENT AS TEXTS ARRIVED
Wednesday March 10 2010
A STALKER WHO sent 100 texts to his ex-girlfriend in a 24-hour period, as well as numerous unwanted phone-calls, was jailed for nine months.
Dubliner James Broderick (36) had a short relationship with the injured party, of Cois Cairn, Bray, between September and November 2009.
She broke up with him and he began to constantly ring and text her mobile and landline, according to Garda Kieran Murphy of Shankill Garda Station.
'She had to switch off her phones to get to sleep,' said the garda, who said that the breakup occurred around November 16 2009.
By November 19, the texts started to take on a vulgar and threatening tone, and the injured party feared for her safety. She then reported the matter to gardaí.
Garda Murphy said that when he was present on November 20 'unwanted phone traffic', came from the defendant's phone to the injured party's phone.
She texted him on garda advice telling him not to communicate with her anymore. Garda Murphy also told her to write down all messages.
She rang gardaí that night saying that the accused man was at her door banging and shouting. Garda Murphy said that while the calls and texts were over a three-day period in total, from the period of November 19 to November 20 he escalated the activity considerably. 'They were all unwanted and derogatory,' he said. Broderick, who has a total of 22 previous convictions, was 'disgusted with himself for his actions', according to his barrister.
Garda Murphy agreed that when the texts were read back to the defendant he was remorseful. It also emerged that he had consumed a bottle of whiskey the day he turned up at her door.
'This is a way to intimidate and frighten other people,' remarked Judge Murrough Connellan, calling the texting and phoning the actions 'of a bully trying to intimidate and impose his will on someone else'.
He said that the 100 texts were ' certainly not a Valentine's greeting', and 'a most dreadful form of intimidation to harass someone like this'. Broderick had entered pleas of guilty to trespass as well as stalking.
