A man who sent ‘threatening’ messages to a former employer as he believed they owed him money, was recently handed a suspended sentence.
Alan Lonergan (45) of Ballyvoreen, Halfway House, Waterford, appeared before Judge Kevin Staunton at a sitting of Waterford District Court in January, charged with four counts of blackmail/extortion, relating to a dispute that he had with a former employer.
Sergeant John Phelan outlined to the court that Gardaí received a report from one of the injured parties involved that they had been ‘threatened’ by a former employee through video, text and voice messages. The court heard the messages related to €15,000 that the injured parties allegedly owed the accused.
Acting for the defendant, solicitor Derrick Connors outlined that his client was given a managerial position in the company under the incentive that he would be given a certain amount of money in the role. He said that the accused injured his arm while at work, and had to leave, but wanted money for work that he had completed before his injury.
Mr Connors added that several interactions between the accused and one of the injured parties in the case took place while they were out in public, where “insulting” words were exchanged. The solicitor also stated that his client tried to settle the dispute through legal means, but it turned out that this was not possible. He said that ultimately, it was a case between a former employee and his employer, where they didn’t get on, and words were said.
It was noted that the accused has two previous convictions for other matters that Judge Staunton said were not relevant to these charges.
Judge Staunton told the defendant that there are ways of addressing cases like this through civil means, that “do not involve ringing and sending texts in a threatening manner” and that the injured parties in the case “believed they were in physical danger” from the ordeal. Sergeant Phelan indicated to the Judge that civil proceedings relating to the matter had taken place, but the outcome of this was not made clear in court.
Judge Staunton decided to hand the accused a four month prison sentence for the matter, which will be suspended for two years.
The Judge indicated that the sentence was given on the condition for the accused to have no further direct or indirect contact with the injured parties. Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.
Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
Robyn Power
