Text messages '˜unreasonable and obscene' - judge

Michael Redmond Doran, Wellington Street, Lurgan, admitted contravention on a non molestation order on April 1 last year.

He was sentenced to four months in custody, suspended for two years.

The judge also granted a two year restraining order.

A public prosecutor said that on April 1 last year the injured party reported that Doran was in breach of a non molestation order by sending her text messages.

When spoken to by police the defendant said: “She was sending me messages as well.”

The prosecutor said they would be applying for a restraining order.

Mr Pat Vernon, representing the defendant, said there was a domestic background where the injured party was refusing to allow Doran contact with their child.

He explained that his client had been texting her to let him see the child and after a time he became more frustrated.

Mr Vernon said that since last April there had been no further incidents between parties and no further breach of the non molestation order.

He added that on two occasions the injured party had not turned up to help prosecute a case against the defendant.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said that a charge had been dismissed because of her non appearance.

He agreed that Doran had accepted sending the messages which became more and more unreasonable and obscene.