A man who sent threatening text messages to his former partner over the custody of their child has been given a suspended sentence of five months.
Paul Mullen (35) Wendell Avenue, Portmarnock, pleaded guilty to two charges of sending the menacing messages by phone on October 1st and November 11th, 2003.
Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court said he accepted that Mullen was never violent in his relationship with his former partner. He suspended the sentence on condition that Mullen be of good behaviour for 12 months.
Gda Alan Campbell told prosecuting counsel, Melaine Greally BL that the couple split up during the pregnancy of the child but had reconciled their differences after her birth. However, Mullen's partner finished the relationship permanently after a row ensued some weeks later.
Mullen was awarded restricted custody by the Family Courts and was allowed two-hour supervised visits every week. He was dissatisfied with this arrangement and did not exercise his right to see the child.
Gda Campbell said Mullen's ex-partner received a text message from him on October 1st saying: "I am coming after you and I will get you."
She then received a barrage of threatening text messages on November 11th which contained statements such as "You're not even worth killing."
The woman was in great fear and reported the incident to the gardaí.
Gda Campbell said Mullen had shown great remorse for the offence and complied with the instruction of the gardaí not to have any further contact with the child or his former partner.
He said Mullen had no previous convictions and was abusing alcohol at the time.