A case of mistaken identity led a woman to make malicious phone calls threatening to "slit the throat" of the child of another woman, Dublin District Court was told yesterday. Lesley Doolin, Mercer House, Dublin, pleaded guilty to making a number of calls and to making threats against Ms Tracey Dempsey between September and November last. Ms Doolin said she was under the mistaken impression that Ms Dempsey was involved in a stabbing incident which led to the death of her boyfriend.
At one stage, Ms Dempsey needed Garda protection because of a threat that her home would be petrol-bombed.
Firelighters were put through her letter box one night, but nobody was charged in connection with that incident. Sgt Michael O'Brien said he traced the calls to Ms Doolin.
Ms Dempsey told the court her child became so traumatised by a threat that her throat would be slit that she started wetting the bed at night.
"I was terrified by what she said - she threatened to slit the throat of my five-year-old daughter and she had to be kept out of school as a result," Ms Dempsey said. "It is past coincidence that the night she threatened somebody was on their way to petrol-bomb my home that firelighters were put through my letter box. My family were deeply traumatised."
Judge Peter Smithwick said it was clear Ms Dempsey was an innocent party and that her child was traumatised. He ordered Ms Doolin, who had no previous convictions, to pay £300 compensation by September 15th next.
"If she pays that and is not involved in any further trouble, she will be bound to the peace for two years," he said.