Couple who carried out 'campaign of harassment' against female dentist walk free from court

A Limerick couple who carried out a “campaign of harassment” against a female dentist and “smirked and smiled” during a month-long trial have walked free from court after spending three weeks in prison.

The harassment included waiting, watching and staring at the dentist outside her place of work, following her while driving, throwing pancake mix over her car, falsely accusing her of sexual impropriety and sending her a vulgar Valentine’s Day card.

Limerick Circuit Court heard the harassment started because the dentist told one of the accused - Emma Maun, aged 28, of Sheahan's flats, Main Street, Askeaton - that her dental needs were too complex and referred her to the maxillofacial unit in University Hospital Limerick.

Ms Maun and her partner - Michael De Sousa, aged 36, of Sheahan's flats, Main Street, Askeaton - were both found guilty of harassment by a jury after a month-long trial on Thursday, July 4. Mr De Sousa pleaded guilty to criminal damage and two counts of making a false report or statement to gardai.

Judge Dermot Sheehan remanded the couple in custody on July 4 prior to sentencing them on Monday, July 8.

On that date, prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, gave a summary of the evidence with the assistance of Garda Patrick O’Sullivan.

Mr O’Sullivan said the victim, who the judge ordered can only be described as a dentist practicing in the Mid-West, finished treating Ms Maun on October 18, 2021.

The barrister said Ms Maun first contacted the victim through a direct message on her Instagram account that she was unhappy at being referred to the maxillofacial unit. Mr O’Sullivan said that the victim explained Ms Maun’s needs were so complex that she could not give her the treatment she required.

“Matters escalated in January 2022. Both accused started appearing regularly outside her place of work. They did not have an appointment or had no business there. Neither said anything - they stared at her as she walked in. This was alarming for the victim. She formed the impression they were waiting for her,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

The court heard the victim received an “extremely vulgar” Valentine’s Day card from an unidentified person, which caused a “sense of disgust and fearfulness" in the victim.

The court heard the victim noticed Ms Maun driving right up behind her and continued to follow her until the dentist pulled into a petrol station.

The prosecuting barrister said the couple were “loitering” outside the victim’s place of work on March 7, March 8, March 9, March 10 in 2022.

“On March 14, 2022, the victim came out of her house around 8.10am to see her car was ‘destroyed’. A cream like liquid was on the roof and back window. It turned out to be pancake mix. There was damage to a wing mirror. She made an effort to clean it and went to work. When she arrived, the accused were standing in the car park, clearly waiting for her and looking out for their handiwork,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

The court heard Mr De Sousa made false allegations about the dentist to gardai in Askeaton and in the city in March which included “alleged sexual impropriety without any foundation”.

The dentist read out her own victim impact statement in which she said the campaign of stalking and harassment caused stress and worry which were “ever-present in my life”.

"I would constantly check over my shoulder and scan my periphery when walking anywhere. I would check the licence plates of the cars parked around and watch cars behind me with suspicion while driving. It was exhausting and disruptive,” said the dentist.

She said her “world became very small” as she stopped going for lunchtime and evening walks and playing sport.

“I did not feel safe going about my daily routine so I had no option but to alter it.” She told the court that the harassment occurred at the same time that one of her parents was gravely ill.

“I often think that if I was a male dentist, they might not have embarked on this harassment. They considered me a weak, shy woman and chose to torment me. My mind still worries what they might do next.”

She spoke of how stressful the month-long trial was and to see the two offenders “smirking and smiling each day like they were enjoying the experience was sickening”.  

She thanked Garda Patrick O’Sullivan, Detective Garda Pat Whelan and the numerous gardaí who “were always considerate and attentive”.

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The court heard that Mr De Sousa and Ms Maun did not accept the verdict of the jury.

Judge Sheehan said it was a complicated case before adjourning matters to last Friday, July 26.

In mitigation on Friday, Liam Carroll, barrister for Mr De Sousa, and Amy Nix BL, who represented Ms Maun, cited case law which they said put the offences at the middle to the lower end of the charge of harassment.

Ms Nix said it was “not the most sophisticated operation of all time”. She said Ms Maun has been engaging with the services provided by Bedford Row while in prison and they have agreed to facilitate her with services upon release.

Mr Carroll quoted from an updated report from a clinical psychologist which referred to Mr De Sousa as very susceptible to peer pressure due to his low self esteem and referred to his client’s autism spectrum disorder.

The judge said the couple had a “bizarre and irrational fixation” with the victim.

He imposed fully suspended four year sentences on each of the two accused for harassment. Mr De Sousa received concurrent 12 month suspended sentences for making a false report to gardai and six months suspended for criminal damage.

The judge ordered that Mr De Sousa and Ms Maun do not communicate with the dentist by any means, including social media, and stay 200 metres away from her place of residence or employment for 15 years.