A 24-year-old unemployed man pleaded guilty to a stalking charge at Ennis District Court yesterday.
Noel Sexton (24), of Cappaduff, Mountshannon, Co Clare, pleaded guilty to harassing Mr Declan White, Morgans Lane, Cappaduff, Mountshannon, by persistently following, pestering, watching and besetting Mr White on December 16th and 17th.
Judge Albert O'Dea remanded Sexton on his own bail of £200 and an independent surety of £2,000 until February 16th to Killaloe District Court on condition that he remain at Our Lady's Psychiatric Hospital, Ennis, to receive psychiatric treatment.
Mr White told the court: "Myself and my family have lived an absolute week of horror where we have been shadowed and terrorised.
"It is not only us, but a German woman and her children have also been terrorised."
Mr White, a Dublin journalist, added that he is considering giving up his livelihood to protect his family.
"What we have gone through is something from a Steven King nightmare," he said. Mr White appealed to the court for protection, saying: "He must not be a danger to society. Another Brendan O'Donnell cannot be allowed to happen."
Insp A.J. Cogan, acting on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court that between 11.55 p.m. and 2.30 a.m. on December 16th and 17th, Mr Sexton drove his car on to Mr White's property on four separate occasions.
The accused was formally arrested and charged on Thursday morning, when he was remanded in custody at a special sitting of Ennis District Court to yesterday's court.
Insp Cogan told the court that if Mr Sexton breaches the conditions of the bail application by leaving Our Lady's Psychiatric Hospital, he will be rearrested, brought back before the court and charged.