A man who sent a tirade of online personal abuse to a couple’s business Facebook page has apologised to the couple in court.
Anthony Downes spent all night sending vulgar messages to Buncrana couple Patricia Barnett-Murphy and her husband Paddy Murphy for no apparent reason.
Downes, aged 61, appeared at Buncrana District Court, facing two harassment charges against the couple who operate a podiatry business in Buncrana.
The court was told that the accused and his victims are neighbours but there is no reason why the allegations and abuse was made.
Garda Inspector David Murphy handed two victim impact statements into court to be read by Judge Paul Kelly.
Patricia Barnett and Patrick Murphy leaving Letterkenny Circuit Court at a previous sitting. (North West Newspix)
Inspector Murphy said 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 the 5th and the 6th of February, 2015.
The couple are neighbours but have had very little interaction with eachother, the court heard.
However, the court heard that Ms Barnett still feels trapped in her home.
Downes said he apologised to the couple and said such an incident would never happened again.
“It is unacceptable and I would like to say that I have apologised in any possible way and I still do. What I have done is unbelievable. There will never be a repeat of this,” he said.
Mr Downes has already been found guilty in the Circuit Civil Court in Letterkenny of defaming the couple.
That court heard how Downes accused Ms Barnett’s husband, of The Crescent, Buncrana, of having an affair with another woman and also referred to her as being overweight saying that her exercise regime was not working.was ordered to pay €32500 to his victims. (North West
Ms Barnett told the court the posts had both hurt her personally and professionally and said she had later met clients who had not come back to her business because of the embarrassment the postings had caused.
Mr Murphy previously told Letterkenny Circuit Court that himself and his wife had to speak to their twins aged 15 about the incident and explain to them that it was not true.
That court ordered him 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 Mr Downes to set aside some of his assets.
Judge Paul 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 or share objectionable material.
On the case of Ms Barnett 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 said also accepted that he felt that Mr Downes was genuinely in his apology to the couple.
He ordered a Probation Report to be carried out on Mr Downes and to examine if the case was suitable for Restorative Justice.
The case was adjourned until October 12th.