A jealous woman flung paint over a car owned by her former boyfriend's new lover and sent her 43 obscene test messages within a fortnight. The 25-year-old also sent offensive text messages to a friend of the other woman, Castlecomer Court heard yesterday.
Mairéad Ryan, Upper Yellow Road, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, admitted harassing her ex-boyfriend's partner Ms Mary Balkin and throwing a tin of paint over her car. She also admitted harassing her friend Ms Amanda Ryan.
Garda Seán McMahon said the woman threw a can of white paint over Ms Balkin's car at Fr Raftice Place, Moneenroe, on February 10th last. The car was parked outside the house which the woman shared with Ms Ryan's ex-boyfriend. Since the end of January, Ryan had been sending obscene text messages to the other woman's mobile and had sent abusive messages to her friend.
The garda said Ryan's relationship with a Moneenroe man had ended and she found it difficult to accept when he and Ms Balkin moved into a house together.
Solicitor Mr Michael Lanigan explained that Ryan was going out with the man for about two years and found the break-up very distressing and traumatic. Her GP was treating her with anti-depressants. She lived with her parents and worked in Kilkenny city. Copies of the obscene text messages, which were not read out in court, were handed in to Judge Mary Martin.
Adjourning the case until February 19th for a probation officer's report, the judge ordered Ryan to pay €1,000 compensation to Ms Balkin and €500 to Ms Ryan. She also ordered either psychiatric or psychological assessment, depending on the recommendations of her GP.