
Woman who harassed two teachers causing both to quit jobs gets suspended jail sentence
A woman who harassed two teachers at a school in the New Ross district to such an extent that both of them ended up leaving their positions has received a ten month suspended prison sentence.
The woman in her early 60s who was charged with harassment was present in court last week when both injured parties described the effect her actions had had on them during her campaign of harassment.
Garda Donal Doyle told the court that he had received correspondence from Victim A, in November 2020 that appeared to be a letter from the Teaching Council which was delivered to the school attaching the code of conduct signed off as the 'Education Department' within the council.
Brendan Curran, state solicitor, queried with Garda Doyle if this department exists to which he confirmed it does not.
After this incident on February 14, 2022 Victim A received a Valentines day card which was posted to her home address which read 'Happy Valentines Day, see you soon'.
Victim A was in a long term relationship at this time.
A month later a St. Patrick's Day card was also sent to her home.
Mr Curran put to the court that the implication of these cards was that they were from a secret admirer and could cause significant issues in her relationship.
Garda Doyle confirmed these cards were sent to Victim A's home address and caused her significant stress.
The second complainant, Victim B, was a colleague working in the school alongside Victim A.
Both women had raised concerns within the school and in June 2020 Victim B received a letter which again appeared to be from the teaching council which was sent to her home address.
This letter seemed to accuse the injured party of harassing and bullying co-workers and referred to health and safety legislation.
On December 18, 2020 the defendant was staring into the classroom of Victim B.
The defendant also phoned Victim B's mother-in-law. The court heard these calls were not threatening but deemed inappropriate, with Garda Doyle saying 'the tone was not great'.
In October 2021 Victim B received correspondence purporting to be from the teaching council with the code of conduct attached and again Garda Doyle said it didn't come from the council.
Ultimately complaints were made and investigated by Garda Doyle.
In relation to the St. Patrick's Day card received by Victim A in March 2021 the stamp was able to be traced to the post office it was bought as well as the date and time it was bought.
This allowed gardaí to locate CCTV and identify the accused as the person buying the stamp.
As a result of this warrants were executed, one of which led to the seizure of a printer which correlated to a print test page that was on the back of one of the letters included in the letters purporting to be from the teaching council, and the accused was then arrested.
She made admissions at the time and was further interviewed on two occasions where she also made full admissions to the correspondence but did not accept the accusation of staring into the window at the school.
The accused claimed she was trying to help her sister who held a position within the school at the time.
Victim A read her victim impact statement into court.
She detailed that in the final three years of teaching within the school there were staff issues and during this time she began to receive anonymous post.
Victim A said that these malicious letters were sent to damage her professional and personal relationships, and her sense of trust in the workplace felt undermined.
She became worried that she had been reported to the teaching council and was incredibly upset, on the same date it was received the teaching council confirmed that it was not from them.
Victim A claimed the third and fourth letters received, the cards sent to her home address, were the most devastating as they implied she was having an affair and attempted to cause a rift in her relationship.
She stated in her final two years of teaching she became increasingly anxious and isolated, entering the school only through the back door and rarely leaving her room unless necessary.
Victim A said how she had ultimately decided to leave the school which she described as 'one of the most difficult decisions I've ever made'.
She added the effect the letters had was 'devastating' as she began to feel stressed and anxious, and felt vulnerable and unsafe at the idea of receiving further letters. The victim added that her peace of mind was taken from her. She said the 'emotional pain had been all consuming'.
Victim A also noted that the defendant, who also had an educational background herself, should have known the serious damage her actions could cause.
Victim A ended her statement on a bittersweet note stating she is finally beginning to put her life back together and that she is grateful for the years she had in this school and remembers her past pupils fondly and is thankful for the colleagues she has had the privilege of working with stating they are still some of her greatest friends.
Victim B then shared she felt she was targeted for raising child and staff safety issues within the school over two years and seven months.
She described how she felt unsafe, threatened, and under attack by the letters as the letters suggested insider knowledge of the school's issues.
Victim B said she felt hurt over the loss of what had been a good school atmosphere. She stated she had reported all the letters received to her Board of Management yet no action was taken, as a result she worried constantly about another letter.
Victim B emphasised to the court the premeditation involved in these letters as they needed to be 'typed, printed, folded, placed into an envelope, addressed, stamped, brought to a post office or letterbox, and posted'.
When Victim B as informed by Garda Doyle that the defendant, who Victim B said was a former principal in addition to holding other educational qualifications, was the culprit behind the letters she felt her conduct was a betrayal of the teaching profession.
Victim B also recounted an incident in January 2021, when the defendant contacted her elderly mother-in-law, leaving phone calls and voicemails that the victim described as threatening and demanding.
She felt that the tone of these calls showed a complete lack of respect for the elderly woman and caused immense worry and stress. As a result of the ongoing harassment, Victim B became 'constantly on high alert', fearing that the defendant was watching or following her.
She described the worry as 'relentless". Ultimately, the victim made the difficult decision to leave the school. She described the emotional toll as leaving her feeling 'afraid, weak, helpless, unsafe, and vulnerable'.
She referred to the entire ordeal as 'a nightmare I could not wake from' in which there was no escape or relief. Victim B thanked the gardaí for their professionalism, commitment, and kindness in this case and also stated she is grateful to her family, friends, and colleagues for the support received during these circumstances and counts herself lucky for these people in her life.
Ross Pratt O'Brien BL, counsel for the defendant, confirmed that there was ongoing issues within the school and stated it was a fair assessment to say there were a number of parties involved at the time.
Mr. Pratt O'Brien BL told the court that the defendant is the older sister to a woman who worked within the school and this woman would have kept the accused appraised of everything going on within the school.
As a token of remorse a sum of €4,000 was offered to both victims which Garda Doyle confirmed was refused.
Mr. Pratt O'Brien BL described the incident as 'not a very sophisticated operation' which Garda Doyle confirmed but stated there was a bit of thought in putting everything together.
Garda Doyle confirmed the accused has no previous convictions, made early admissions, and has not come to An Garda Síochána attention since the last incident in March 2022.
The defendant then took to the witness stand to convey her apologies to both of the injured parties. She acknowledged the hurt and expressed her deep regret for the hurt she caused to the individuals involved.
She stated she felt immense pressure to support her sister who was experiencing challenges within the school and acknowledged how she should not have allowed her emotions to dominate and control her actions and should have maintained a neutral and objective stance.
She described her actions as 'unwise and very regrettable". The accused offered her sincere apologies to all parties involved and expressed her deep remorse for the impact her actions had.
Mr. Pratt O'Brien BL urged the court to consider a probation report in the unusual circumstances of the case where there were ongoing issues within the school and Walsh felt protective of her sister.
The barrister told the court that the defendant is working part time as a lecturer and her career is essentially winding down.
Counsel reminded the court of the accused's sincere apology and remorse for her actions and stated he is seeking a probation report as he feels certain issues will come to light in this report.
Judge John Cheatle described the incident as an 'out of character event with very serious consequences' but did not order a probation report and instead opted to finalise matters for the peace of mind of both injured parties.
Judge Cheatle commended the victims for their statements and also the gardaí for their professionalism in this case.
He remarked that when the defendant began sending these letters that she had no idea of the 'catastrophic effect' her actions would have on both women and their families and friends in so many ways.
Judge Cheatle stated he cannot see the benefit in imprisoning the accused and imposed a 10-month sentence suspended for 12-months, and also ordered €4,000 be paid to each of the injured parties as a gesture of remorse and in circumstances where the victims do not want the money they can nominate a charity for the funds to be paid to.
Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Wexford Courthouse.
Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 16th
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Times
42 minutes ago
- Irish Times
US Justice Dept loses bid to unseal Epstein partner Ghislaine Maxwell's grand jury records
A US judge ruled on Monday that grand jury records from the sex trafficking case of Ghislaine Maxwell - partner of late financier Jeffrey Epstein - will remain sealed, writing that their release would not answer lingering questions about the case despite the Justice Department's portrayal of them as matters of significant public interest. President Donald Trump , trying to quell discontent from his conservative base of supporters over his administration's handling of the case, last month instructed attorney general Pam Bondi to seek court approval for the release of grand jury material from Epstein's and Maxwell's cases. In his decision denying the Justice Department's request as to Maxwell's case, Manhattan-based US district judge Paul Engelmayer wrote that the government's assertion that the materials would reveal meaningful new information was 'demonstrably false'. 'A member of the public, appreciating that the Maxwell grand jury materials do not contribute anything to public knowledge, might conclude that the Government's motion for their unsealing was aimed not at 'transparency' but at diversion - aimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such,' the judge wrote. READ MORE Another federal judge in Manhattan, Richard Berman, is weighing the Justice Department's bid to unseal the grand jury records from Epstein's case. Judge Berman has not yet ruled. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her 2021 conviction on sex-trafficking charges. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. He had pleaded not guilty. Neither the Justice Department, the White House, nor a lawyer for Maxwell immediately responded to requests for comment. Epstein socialised with the wealthy and powerful. His death in jail sparked conspiracy theories that other prominent people were involved in his alleged crimes and that he was murdered. The New York City chief medical examiner determined that Epstein's death was a suicide by hanging. Mr Trump had promised to make public Epstein-related files if re-elected and accused Democrats of covering up the truth. But in July, the Justice Department declined to release any more material from its investigation of the case and said a previously touted Epstein client list did not exist, angering Trump's supporters. [ Bill Clinton and ex-federal officials subpoenaed by Republicans over Epstein sex-trafficking operation Opens in new window ] The Justice Department's request to unseal the grand jury records came as the Trump administration sought to contain the political fallout. In a court filing on July 18th, the Justice Department wrote that 'transparency to the American public is of the utmost importance to this Administration'. In his decision, Mr Engelmayer wrote that the Maxwell grand jury proceedings, which consisted of testimony from two law enforcement agents, did not contain noteworthy information that had not previously been made public at Maxwell's month-long trial four years ago. 'The materials do not identify any person other than Epstein and Maxwell as having had sexual contact with a minor. They do not discuss or identify any client of Epstein's or Maxwell's,' wrote the judge, who was appointed by Democratic president Barack Obama. 'They do not reveal new sources of their wealth. They do not explore the circumstances of Epstein's death.' [ Epstein confidante Ghislaine Maxwell transferred to lower-security prison in Texas Opens in new window ] Mr Engelmayer wrote that even though much of the grand jury material was subsequently made public at Maxwell's trial, there was still a 'systemic interest' in maintaining grand jury secrecy. Grand juries operate behind closed doors to prevent interference in criminal investigations and to protect the reputations of uncharged individuals. Last month, a Florida judge rejected the administration's request to unseal grand jury records from federal investigations there into Epstein in 2005 and 2007. Epstein served a 13-month sentence after pleading guilty in 2008 to a state-level prostitution charge as part of a deal now widely regarded as too lenient. – Reuters


Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Breaking: Irish woman found dead on yacht in New York
An Irish entrepreneur who is originally from Co Carlow has died on a yacht in New York. Martha Nolan-O'Slattera was pronounced dead on a boat which was docked at the Montauk Yacht Club on Monday evening. Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra moved to the United States in 2018 at the age of 26. She had been living in Manhattan. While in the US, she set up fashion brand East X East in the Hamptons. The Department of Foreign Affairs have said they are aware of the case and is providing consular assistance. A spokesperson for the Department noted: "As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases." More to follow Read More Teenager dies from injuries sustained in Co Kerry crash


Sunday World
5 days ago
- Sunday World
Ex school principal harassed two teachers forcing them to leave their posts
The harassment consisted of Walsh sending anonymised letters and cards to the women Celia Walsh, Director of Waterford Education Support Centre, a former principal of Murrintown National School in Wexford and a part-time lecturer with the University of Limerick, targeted the women after they raised concerns over safety protocols in a school where her sister held a role. The harassment consisted of Walsh sending anonymised letters and cards to the women, forging documents from the Teaching Council to make them fear they were under investigation and making calls to and leaving voicemails on the phone of one of her victim's elderly mother-in-law. Walsh, who gives training courses for teachers in the area of Special Education Needs with the Waterford Education Support Centre, appeared before Wexford District Court earlier this month where she was convicted of two counts of harassment and one count of forgery. Walsh did not want to add to her court apology when she was approached by our reporter Patrick O'Connell A six-month sentence was imposed on each of the counts of harassment, she was ordered to pay €4,000 to each of her victims, and a 10-month sentence was handed down to her for the count of forging Teaching Council documents. Convictions Approached by the Sunday World at her home outside the village of Campile last week, Walsh, who holds a doctorate in education and lectured as a tutor in educational leadership at UL, declined to add to an apology she offered in court for her behaviour. Instead, she told our reporter she did 'not want journalists calling to her home'. When contacted, the University of Limerick, which was not aware of Walsh's convictions prior to our call, declined to comment. The Sunday World understands Walsh was not employed as a staff lecturer with the university but was instead part of a panel from which the college drew tutors when the module in educational leadership was running. A source said other universities and colleges also had access to this panel of lecturers. The Waterford Education Support Centre – which, on its website, describes Walsh as 'a good role model for all staff employed in the Centre' – did not answer queries as to whether it had taken steps to address her behaviour. Walsh talks with our reporter Patrick O'Connell At Walsh's sentencing hearing, Garda Donal Doyle told the court that he had received correspondence from Victim A in November 2020 that appeared to be a letter from the Teaching Council. 'I was extremely worried that I had been reported to The Teaching Council,' the victim told the court. 'I was so upset. I cried in work and at home that day. The evening I received it, at 7pm it was confirmed by the Teaching Council of Ireland that the letter did not originate from them.' After this incident, on February 14, 2022, Victim A received a Valentine's day card which was posted to her home address which read 'Happy Valentines Day, see you soon'. Victim A was in a long term relationship at this time. A month later a St Patrick's Day card was also sent to her home. In her victim impact statement, victim A said: 'These implied I was having an affair. This not only attempted to tarnish my reputation but also attacked my personal life. Celia Walsh attempted to cause huge suspicion in my relationship. 'It was mortifying and deeply upsetting to know that someone was trying to harm me so personally and vindictively.' Alarm The second complainant, Victim B, worked in the school alongside Victim A. Both women had raised concerns within the school and in June 2020 Victim B received a letter which again appeared to be from the Teaching Council which was sent to her home address. This letter seemed to accuse the injured party of harassing and bullying co-workers and referred to health and safety legislation. The defendant also phoned Victim B's mother-in-law. The court heard these calls were not threatening but deemed inappropriate, with Garda Doyle saying 'the tone was not great'. In her victim impact statement, Victim B said: 'The arrival of anonymous letters created suspicion, alarm, fear and disbelief. 'Nothing like this had ever happened to me in my career, before or since. I felt so hurt and so distressed at the loss of what had been a wonderful school atmosphere prior to September 2019. 'Each anonymous item that was sent by Celia Walsh had to be composed, typed, printed, folded, placed in an envelope, addressed, stamped, brought to a post office or letter box, and posted. At any one of these steps, Celia Walsh could have stopped herself, but she did not. 'When I was informed by Detective Garda Donal Doyle that the investigation confirmed that Celia Walsh was the author of the anonymous letters, I was shocked that as a former principal of two schools, director of a Teacher Centre and a recently-qualified Doctor of Education, Celia Walsh would threaten, intimidate and harass a fellow teacher. I felt that Celia Walsh's conduct was a betrayal of the teaching profession.' In relation to the St Patrick's Day card received by Victim A in March 2021, the stamp was traced to the post office in which it was bought as well as the date and time it was bought. This allowed gardai to locate CCTV and identify Celia Walsh as the person buying the stamp. As a result, Walsh was arrested and made admissions. She claimed she was trying to help her sister who held a position within the school at the time. Sentence Ross Pratt O'Brien BL, counsel for the defendant, said his client was the older sister to a woman who worked within the school and this woman would have kept the accused appraised of everything going on within the school. He described the incident as 'not a very sophisticated operation' which Garda Doyle confirmed, but stated there was a bit of thought in putting everything together. Walsh took to the witness stand to convey her apologies to the injured parties. Judge John Cheatle stated he could not see the benefit in imprisoning the accused and imposed a 10-month sentence suspended for 12 months, and also ordered €4,000 be paid to each of the injured parties as a gesture of remorse and in circumstances where the victims do not want the money they can nominate a charity for the funds to be paid to. Celia Walsh escaped with a suspended sentence for her actions News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, August 5th