'Sinister' and 'deceitful' man jailed for three years for harassing Mayo woman

A CIRCUIT Court Judge who sentenced a Leitrim man to three years imprisonment for harassing a Mayo woman he met online over a 13 month period has described his actions as 'sinister and deceitful'.

David Moran (33) of Corrabeagh, Gorvagh, Mohill, Co Leitrim appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court last week where he was sentenced after pleading guilty to harassing a 31-year-old Mayo woman over a 13 month period between November 2021 and December 2022.

In sentencing Mr Moran, Judge Eoin Garavan commented that nothing in court tends to shock him anymore but stated that this case 'astounded me' and 'to me it was quite an extraordinary story'.

“It was quite extraordinary, distressing, sinister and deceptive and absolutely at the higher end of harassment,” he said before imposing the prison sentence.

The victim, who is not being named in order to protect her identity, met Mr Moran on a dating app in January 2020 but because of the Covid lockdown, they met for the first and only time in Charlestown that July. The victim did not wish to become romantically involved but they continued to be friends and would communicate via Snapchat.

Towards the end of 2021, Mr Moran accused her of trying to make a c**t of him and stringing him along when she suggested they would be better off leaving things because they lived so far apart.

While he later apologised and agreed to be friends, Mr Moran began a 13 month campaign of harassment which included putting offensive signs outside her home, setting up fake social media pages using her profile which would be offensive, sending vulgar and offensive text messages and sending offensive emails purporting to be from her to work colleagues.

Months of hell

The victim said that she went through months of hell not knowing who was behind the campaign of harassment and it never crossed her mind Mr Moran could be responsible. The court heard that during the same period he had sent her flowers and a Penney's voucher.

Mr Moran, who owns a small plant machine business, was eventually tracked down when gardaí were able to obtain information about a fake gmail account set up to send offensive messages which contained his mobile number. He was arrested in January 2023 where he made full admissions and told gardaí that 'I didn't mean any harm, I just wanted her to suffer'.

Gardaí were first notified of the signs outside her home in November 2021 but they were unable to identify who was responsible and it continued over the next 13 months.

Eventually photos taken from a camera placed outside the victim's home on November 22, 2022, December 3, 2022 and December 4, 2022 appeared to show a Toyota Land Cruiser. The victim stated that David Moran drove a similar jeep.

On December 31, 2022, the victim's father found signs in the back garden of their home stating, 'you rode my boyfriend and think it's over ... I am going to cut your throat open' and 'Big surprise coming at your 30th you fat bitch'.

On January 16, 2023, gardaí went to the home of David Moran in Mohill with a search warrant. A number of items were recovered including three mobile phones containing photos of the victim, paint to paint the signs and a paintbrush and screws to put signs together.

Mr Moran was conveyed to Castlebar Garda Station where he made admissions regarding the harassment.

In a victim impact statement which was read to the court last July, the victim said that Mr Moran stole her life from her and she doesn't know if she will get it back.

“When the harassment began it never crossed my mind he could have been behind it. We were talking for a long time but we only met once and at the time I hadn't given him my phone number and I certainly haven't given him my address. It did not make sense that he could have so much information about me and I was shocked to find out it was him who was putting me through these months of hell. Looking back now I don't know how I actually got through it,” she said.

The court heard that Mr Moran received information on her from a friend but he would not say who this is and the victim feels not knowing who to trust is another form of torture. She said she is embarrassed at what people think of her when they saw the signs along the road and the fake social media pages.

“The impact on my parents made me feel more uncomfortable with the thought of this evil person being around my home and placing threats in my garden. My father got up early for months in case there were more signs and one night he stayed up all night in the hopes of catching someone in the act.

Mental torture

“The mental torture is one of the cruelest acts and I still find myself looking over my shoulder and dread the thoughts of bumping into him. I have nightmares about him.

“The aftermath is definitely the worst part of going through this. I can't fathom how David Moran had that audacity to stay in contact with me as himself throughout this time. The time, planning and effort put into ruining my life is unthinkable. How he can go to these lengths and destroy someone is unthinkable. I really hope no one else suffers because of this awful man,” she stated.

When the facts in the case were heard last July, sentencing was adjourned to allow for the preparation of a probation report. At last week's sentencing hearing, Mr Desmond Dockery, senior counsel for Mr Moran, read a letter written by his client where he apologises for his actions.

“I sincerely regret my behaviour and the stress and hurt I have caused [the victim] and her family with this harassment. I am very very sorry. There is no defence for what I did even though I felt scorned at the time. There is no excuse.

“At 32 years of age I should know what is right and what is wrong and this was terribly wrong and there is no defence for what I did and I regret everything I did.

“I am willing to do whatever it takes to show that I am not this person and I will learn and make sure I have the awareness never to do anything so nasty and hurtful to anyone ever again,” he wrote.

Mr Dockery said that since the case broke in the media, his client has received negative reactions which has resulted in him becoming depressed and it has affected his business.

When Judge Garavan put it to Mr Dockery that there was no reason given for his actions, he replied that his client was never in a relationship before and he was not equipped to deal with the rejection.

“He was not equipped and out of his depth and reacted in an appalling way. Once he crossed over that line he went very far over that line and he appreciates that now,” he said.

Compensation

Mr Dockery explained that his client is willing to give €20,000 in compensation to the victim as a gesture of his remorse and he has been accepted onto the Men Overcoming Violent Emotions (MOVE) programme. He added the Probation Service considered him to be of low risk of reoffending.

Judge Garavan described Mr Moran's actions during the 13 month period as 'extraordinary' and questioned how long it would have lasted if he had not been caught 'red handed'.

“This man was coming down after midnight travelling 50 miles and more to put up signs so he could get at her and did so for 13 months. One would have thought a man with issues would get angry and lash out and then gain insight after a few weeks and stop it. But it went on for 13 months,” he commented.

Judge Garavan said he was shocked at how deceitful and sinister anyone could be and there was no explanation for his actions other than hatred for a woman.

He accepted that the offer of compensation is significant and that Mr Moran is now a pariah in his community. However, he said to treat any human being in the way he did has to be reflected in the prison sentence and imposed a four year sentence.

The final year of the sentence was suspended for a two year period on the condition Mr Moran comes under the care of the Probation Service and completes a victim awareness programme and the MOVE programme. He was also ordered to stay away from the victim and her family for ten years post release.

Judge Garavan commended the victim on her courage and hopes this brings an end to this chapter of suffering in her life.