‘I’m sorry for tirade of abuse about couple on Facebook’
Man, 61, in court over rant
‘What I’ve done is unbelievable’
A MAN who sent a tirade of personal abuse to a couple’s business Facebook page has apologised in court to the husband and wife he targeted.
Anthony Downes, 61, spent all night sending vulgar messages to Patricia BarnettMurphy and Paddy Murphy for no apparent reason.
Downes, 61, appeared at Buncrana District Court in Co. Donegal facing two charges of harassment against the couple, who operate a podiatry business in Buncrana.
The court was told that the accused and his victims are neighbours but that there was no reason for the allegations and abuse he posted.
Garda Inspector David Murphy handed two victim-impact statements into court to be read by Judge Paul Kelly.
Inspector Murphy said that he was not reading out the contents of the abuse as it would cause further embarrassment to the couple.
Downes, of The Bungalow, The Crescent, Buncrana, admitted sending a number of messages to the couple’s Facebook page between February 5 and 6, 2015.
The couple are his neighbours but he has had very little interaction with them, the court heard.
The court also heard that Ms Barnett still feels trapped in her home following the incident.
Downes said he apologised to the couple and added that such an incident would never happen again.
‘It is unacceptable and I would like to say that I have apologised in any possible way and I still do,’ he said. ‘What I have done is unbelievable. There will never be a repeat of this.’
The Circuit Civil Court in Letterkenny has already found that Downes defamed the couple – and ordered him to pay out damages.
That court heard how Downes accused Mr Murphy, of The Crescent, Buncrana, of having an affair with another woman.
He also referred to Ms BarnettMurphy as being overweight and said that her exercise regime was not working.
Mrs Barnett-Murphy told the court the online posts had hurt her both personally and professionally. She said she had later met clients who had not come back to her business because of the embarrassment the Facebook posts had caused.
Mr Murphy previously told the Letterkenny court that he and his wife had to speak to their twins, aged 15, about the incident and explain to them that the allegations were not true.
That court ordered Downes to pay the couple more than €30,000 in damages. However, Buncrana District Court was told that, to date, none of this money has been paid. The court also heard claims that efforts had been made by Downes to set aside some of his assets. Judge Kelly said that for all its value and usefulness, Facebook also had many negatives aspects. He said he often questioned the mentality of those who comment on or share objectionable material.
On the case of Mrs BarnettMurphy and Mr Murphy, Judge Kelly said ‘I struggle to find anything more offensive or hurtful to say about a married couple.
‘And I have to ask myself how other people could share those comments.
‘It makes you wonder about some people behind keyboards who make these disgusting comments about other people.’
He said he also accepted that Downes was genuine in his apology to the couple.
He ordered a probation report to be carried out on Downes, to examine if the case was suitable for restorative justice.
The case was adjourned until October 12. Comment – Page 14
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