Man harassed his neighbour over a ‘lengthy period’

He was Gary Healey (25), Glenfield Road, Lurgan, and between July 18, 2013 and March 7, 2014, he pursued a course of conduct which amounted to harassment of a female.

He was sentenced to five months in prison, suspended for two years, and a five year restraining order was put in place.

The court heard that a neighbour of Healey claimed she had been harassed on a number of occasions.

An animal welfare officer had called in relation to her dogs not being cared for but the officer checked and they were well cared for.

There was also a complaint to Craigavon Borough Council about her dogs barking but there was no substance to the complaint.

A public prosecutor said they had spoken to the injured party and she wished a restraining order.

She told of an incident where the defendant had contacted the police about the banging of doors in her house but the police had not taken it any further.

A barrister for Healey said that now the tables had turned and the defendant would say he is bring provoked by banging doors and other noises.

He added that his client believed this was to provoke him into a reaction so that if he did he could be arrested under the restraining order.

District Judge, Mr Desmond Perry, said he deferred sentencing because of the risk of custody and as there was no re-offending he was going to deal with the matter.

He told Healey he had ‘indulged in a systematic and lengthy campaign’ and in an ‘insidious way’ had made complaints to public bodies.

Judge Perry said it must have been ‘very frightening and unpleasant’ for the victim.