Stalking is on the increase and its women victims must be protected by new legislation, according to Fianna Fail's law reform spokesman, Mr Willie O'Dea. He pointed out that stalking was recognised as a crime in California six years ago, and a Stalking Bill is in preparation in Britain.
A stalker, he said, was "any person who wilfully, maliciously and repeatedly follows or harasses another person and who makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear of death or great bodily injury."