A mechanic who threatened to distribute explicit photographs of his former girlfriend to her family was found guilty of harassment by a jury of the Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
After the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict, Judge Kevin Haugh told Edward Ronayne (28), Cloonfad, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, he had committed a "very mean, nasty and shabby" offence.
Judge Haugh sentenced Ronayne to 12 months' imprisonment, suspended on condition he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years. He was also fined €10,000.
Ronayne had pleaded not guilty to harassing Ms Kathy Finn (21), Cullentra, Ballyhaunis, between December 30th, 2002, and February 11th, 2003, contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act 1997.
Afterwards, Ms Finn indicated that any compensation paid was to benefit equally Crumlin Children's Hospital and Breast Cancer Awareness.
Judge Kevin Haugh said: "What happened after the relationship ended was a callous act of bullying and the accused continued to exert the power he had over her for so many years.
"He wished to flex his muscles and have her jump to his bidding and it seemed to me a shabby, cruel and very unpleasant way to behave.
"The defendant couldn't be punished for pleading not guilty. But it again showed an attitude that he would defend this charge, putting her through the mill to run a defence that he didn't think the threats and blackmail, exposing her most intimate secrets, would be taken seriously by her." Judge Haugh asserted it was no exaggeration when the victim said her life was made into a living hell.