A man who threatened to put a bullet in his estranged wife's head has been told he could face up to five years in prison if he contacts her again.
Conor Donohoe (45), previously of Supple Hall, Dunshaughlin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to harassing his wife on dates between December 31st, 2004, and January 16th, 2005. Judge Michael White told Donohoe his behaviour was "absolutely and entirely unacceptable" and he was not to use his problem with alcohol to wallow in self pity.
Garda Ciarán Cassidy told Garret Baker, prosecuting, that the couple married in 1981 but a barring order had been in place against Donohue since February 2004. Mrs Donohoe's car was damaged by a third party in December 2004 and she received texts from her husband the following day saying, "you're next" and "your gaff is next".
During the period of the harassment, Mrs Donohoe received 12 text messages and 78 phone calls from her husband in which he said, "I'll never stop, you're dead", and told her he did not care about the barring order and he would put a bullet in her head.
Garda Cassidy said Donohoe denied the harassment when arrested but later said it had been a "lovers' tiff". He had 23 previous convictions, including breaching the barring order and damaging his wife's property.
Mrs Donohoe told Judge White that she was in remission from cancer and said the stress caused by her husband's behaviour did not help her medical condition. She could not sleep properly, was nervous when she went out and was jumpy when the phone rang.
Seán Gillane, defending, said his client was sorry for what he had done, had a "sustained, serious and chronic alcohol addiction", and was attending Alcoholics Anonymous.
Garda Cassidy told the judge that Donohoe had phoned his wife on the day of his last court appearance and the night before this hearing. Judge White said he was outraged that Donohoe had made further contact with the injured party and said he could be held in contempt of court.
He ordered that Donohoe stay away from his wife and make no contact with her. He said a prison term of four to five years could be imposed if he did not abide by the order, gave liberty to the prosecution to re-enter the case at 24 hours' notice and ordered a probation report for next year.