The director of a security company made threatening, hoax phone calls to a solicitor purporting to be from the "Real IRA", the High Court in Galway heard yesterday.
Company director Philip Duffy made the calls anonymously to Mr Evan O'Dwyer in reprisal for a complaint Mr O'Dwyer made about the quality of work carried out at his home by Mr Duffy's company, Nightguard Limited.
Duffy apologised to Mr O'Dwyer publicly in court yesterday and was ordered to pay damages plus costs in the case.
Mr O'Dwyer, of Palace Fields, Tullindaly Road, Tuam, Co Galway, stated in his claim that he had paid €1,200 to Nightguard Security, which has offices at the IDA Small Business Park, Tuam Rd, Galway, to install an intruder alarm at his home in November, 2001.
The system, he found, was unsatisfactory, despite an attempt by Nightguard to rectify the problem.
Mr O'Dwyer eventually replaced it with a different system which also cost him €1,200.
Mr O'Dwyer was at work in his office in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, on February 3rd, 2002 when he received a phone call.
The caller asked for him by name and said: "This is the 'Real IRA'. You are in serious trouble. You will regret what you are doing."
Mr O'Dwyer received more than 20 more calls with a similar message.
When the case was called before Mr Justice Kelly at the High Court sitting in Galway yesterday, Mr Conor Maguire SC, for Mr O'Dwyer, said the matter had been settled and the settlement included an apology.