A college lecturer who made his next-door neighbour's life a misery for nearly 10 years and ruined her B&B business by continually harassing her has paid more than €7,500 in compensation to the woman for loss of earnings.
Robert Loughnane (52), Woodhaven, Merlin Park, Dublin Road, Galway, a lecturer at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, pleaded guilty to harassing Julie Manton between August 2006 and March 2007 at Woodhaven, contrary to the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, at Galway District Court in November.
The court heard that the harassment began in 1998 but Ms Manton made a formal complaint in September 2006 when Loughnane's antics ruined a barbecue in her back garden. Loughnane let his lawnmower run until it ran out of petrol. He refilled it and let it run until it ran out of petrol again. Ten other incidents involving the lawnmower were recorded by the victim, as well as foul language. On September 4th last a guest at the B&B was subjected to a barrage of colourful and racist language as he tried to park his car.
The money was handed over in court yesterday.