Tipperary man convicted of harassment told woman the 'IRA would put a bullet in her head'

A Ballingarry man has been given a three-month suspended prison sentence for harassing a woman, Thurles District Court has heard.

The man had to be removed from the courtroom by gardaí before his sentence was called out because he continually disrupted the court and made comments to and about his victim.

William Butler (65) of Boulea, The Commons, was charged with harassment at Boyle Sports in Thurles between February 1 and October 8, 2022, contrary to Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Acts Against the Person Act 1997. Mary Carroll told the court that she knew the defendant as a customer at Boyle Sports in Thurles, where she works.

She said he would come in at least once a week and become progressively more intoxicated throughout the day, verbally abuse and make sexual comments about her.

Comments included that the witness “needed a good ride”, comments about her body and that she was “working for blood money”.

“The more you asked him to stop, the louder he got,” said Ms Carroll.

Mr Butler also commented “sexy” under pictures of her and her sister on Facebook, the court heard. When the incidents escalated in early 2022, Ms Carroll contacted the gardaí.

After the gardaí spoke to him, Mr Butler returned to the shop and said:

“The IRA will put a bullet in your head for calling them.”

Ms Carroll told the court on several occasions, colleagues had to intervene and Mr Butler was removed from the shop. Ms Carroll told the court that she was frightened of the defendant and that she would be “on edge” when she knew he was in town.

In September 2022, Ms Carroll made a written statement to the gardaí.

Throughout Ms Carroll’s evidence, Mr Butler continually disrupted the court denying the allegations and claiming the witness was lying.

Acting for the defendant, solicitor Paddy Cadell asked Ms Carroll if she thought Mr Butler might have believed he was flirting with her.

He said it was his client’s understanding that these were jokes and “banter”, and that he did not have a Facebook account.

Ms Carroll told the court that she had screenshots of the comments.

She said it was her job to be nice to customers and she would build up a “rapport” with regulars, but that this was different.

“I don’t know if I would call it banter when he had to be removed from the shop, it got so bad,” said Ms Carroll.

MEMORANDUM

The investigating garda told the court that after he took the witness’ statement, he spoke with her colleagues, who did not want to be involved in the investigation.

He said he went to the defendant’s home and after speaking to him, arrested him and took him to Thurles Garda Station, where he was interviewed. The guard read allowed for the court the memorandum generated from that interview.

In the interview, the defendant denied making sexual comments about Ms Butler or her body.

The court heard the defendant admitted knowing Ms Carroll and where she lived. He confirmed that he did go to the shop regularly intoxicated and that he had called her “the finest thing in Thurles”.

According to the memorandum, Mr Butler also admitted to asking her out and that he thought she was “hot” but lacked confidence.

He said: “I didn’t say anything about her a*se, I just complimented her.”

The court also heard that Mr Butler said that Ms Carroll’s colleagues had encouraged his behaviour and that he believed they were making fun of him.

Mr Cadell asked the guard if Mr Butler had stayed away from the shop and now frequents Cashel.

He also asked the guard if Mr Butler cooperated fully with the gardaí and if his client could be “led astray by alcohol”.

The guard confirmed that Mr Butler cooperated with him but did not know if alcohol was the cause of his behaviour.

JUST ANNOYING

In his evidence, Mr Butler told the court that he did not harass the witness, he only “annoyed” her.

He denied making sexual comments and told the judge he would “never say those things to a woman”.

He admitted to telling her she worked for blood money but would never have commented on the IRA.

“I wasn’t harassing her. I was annoying. I’m annoying now. I can’t help it Judge,” said Mr Butler.

Mr Butler said he apologised for any offence caused but that the witness’ accusations were “nonsense”.

He said he spoke with Ms Carroll in September, and she did not seem uncomfortable around him.

Mr Cadell asked him to take an undertaking to stay away from Ms Carroll even if he were not convicted, and Mr Butler agreed, saying he was already staying away from the shop.

Acting for the State, Inspector James White of Thurles Garda Station asked Mr Butler if the statement he made to gardaí was true, to which he replied: “She is telling lies.”

After giving his evidence, Mr Butler passed Ms Carroll and made further inaudible comments to her.

REMOVAL

Mr Cadell asked the judge to consider not imposing a conviction but instead order him to undertake to stay away from Ms Carroll.

Inspector White said that Mr Butler had already been told to stay away from Ms Carroll, and he had been “well warned”.

It was at this point Mr Butler began shouting that he would not listen to lies, and gardaí removed him from the courtroom.

PROFOUND EFFECT

Judge Catherine Hayden denied Mr Cadell’s request. She noted the evidence from Ms Carroll, Garda Purcell and Mr Butler.

Judge Hayden called Ms Carroll a “credible, honest and truthful witness”.

She noted that the defendant had been asked to stay away and had not done so.

“It is my view that Ms Carroll would not have gone through so much personal and traumatic detail if it hadn’t happened,” said Judge Hayden.

Judge Hayden read Ms Carroll’s victim impact statement after which she said it was clear that the harassment had a “profound effect” on the witness.

The court was told that Mr Butler has seven previous convictions, a number of which were for public order offences.

In mitigation, Mr Cadell said his client had issues with alcohol and was on a social welfare payment.

Judge Hayden imposed a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, on the condition that Mr Butler have no communication with Ms Carroll, including on social media.

He is also required to refrain from coming within 20 ft of her, her residence or Boyle Sports, and he is to remain sober.

Mr Butler, through his counsel, apologised to Ms Carroll and said he now accepts that he caused her discomfort.