Woman sent for trial over obscene calls to Áras and Dáil

A 57-year-old Dublin woman has been sent forward for trial accused of making a litany of obscene phone calls to Áras an Uachtaráin and the Dáil.

Anne Fennell, of Monastery Gate Green, Clondalkin, appeared at Dublin District Court, where she was served with a book of evidence.

Judge Michael Walsh made an order sending her forward for trial to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where she will face her next hearing on June 26th.

Ms Fennell faces 22 charges under the Post Office Act for making grossly offensive phone calls or persistently sending telephone messages that were false and for the purpose of causing annoyance, over a 20-month period.

The DPP has directed that Ms Fennell must face trial on indictment, meaning her case will be dealt with in the circuit court, which has tougher sentencing powers.

Detectives based in Garda stations in Dublin and Co Tipperary told the court Ms Fennell made no reply when she was charged.

Bail conditions

Judge Walsh imposed bail conditions stating she must sign on twice a week at her local Garda station and provide gardaí with a contact telephone number. He ordered her not to contact any member of the Oireachtas or Áras an Uachtaráin.

Ms Fennell is alleged to have made an indecent, grossly offensive and obscene call to Dáil Éireann, on November 18th, 2014, and a nuisance call to a named person there on the following day.

She is also accused of making nine obscene calls to Áras an Uachtaráin on dates in April, October and November last year.

The woman is also accused of making calls with false messages to cause annoyance to the Department of Finance, and European Commission offices in Dublin.

Other charges involve allegations of nuisance phone messages to four named people at locations in Nenagh and Templemore in Co Tipperary.

The remaining counts relate to phone calls allegedly to named people or locations in Dublin, at Bishop Square in the city centre, Philipsburg Avenue in Marino, and an An Post office at Oak Road in Dublin 12.

The incidents are alleged to have occurred between March 2013 and November 2014.