‘Ex-boyfriend’s new partner targeted inFacebook campaign’

Maureen Bernadette Curoe (40), of Pilot Street, Belfast did not appear at Coleraine Magistrates Court on Thursday because her barrister Ben Thompson said she had been “unwell all night” but he said he had taken instructions and she was pleading not guilty.

Curoe faces a total of five charges involving dates in 2013 including one count of harassment of Yvonne Hegarty.

There are two charges of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety by persistently using a public electronic communications network. Curoe is also charged with sending a message that was grossly offensive or indecent, obscene or of a menacing character as well as an allegation of sending a menacing message.

Mr Thompson said there is a “significant amount” of Facebook posts which will take some time to go through. The case was adjourned to later this month to fix a date for a contest.

At the same court last year Curoe pleaded guilty to sending obscene and menacing messages regarding Ms Hegarty on Facebook and was given a four months jail term, suspended for two years, and a general non-molestation order was issued. In July Curoe was given a two year restraining order banning her from making reference to Ms Hegarty on social media.