A Connemara bachelor who stalked a public health nurse, stole her underwear and sent her a carrot with a condom attached through the post, was given a suspended three-year sentence yesterday at Galway Circuit Criminal Court.
Antoine Ó Flatharta (56), Doire Fhearta Beag, Carraroe, had only briefly met public health nurse Ms Bríd Quinn when she called in 1995 to treat his mother who has since died.
He became infatuated with her, prowled around her home, sent her a condom attached to a carrot and broke into her home and stole some of her underwear.
Ó Flatharta wrote to Ms Quinn and threatened to burn down her home. He caused €4,400 worth of damage to her car and also wrote to Ms Quinn's mother threatening to murder the nurse. The offences took place in 1996.
When asked by gardaí why he had carried out these actions, Ó Flatharta had replied "grá" (love).
The matter had been adjourned on several occasions before Galway Circuit Criminal Court as Judge Harvey Kenny accepted the accused was now receiving treatment under close supervision at a day care centre in Carraroe, was receiving injections every three weeks for a psychiatric condition and was living with his brother away from the victim's home.
In court yesterday, Mr Paul McGettigan, said the accused had pleaded guilty to all charges, he had complied fully with the directions of the psychiatric services and had been trouble-free in the interim.
Mr Pat Egan, probation officer, recommended a relaxation of bail so that the accused could return to his own home.
A sum of €6,350 in compensation had also been paid to the victim, he added.
Judge Harvey Kenny sentenced the accused to three years in prison, suspended for five years on condition that he not reoffend.