A WOMAN who claims she was harassed by a former boyfriend over four years has told Cork Circuit Court that she saw the man in her driveway late one night.
On the second day of the trial, Gráinne Barry (35), a teacher, told Judge Patrick Moran that she saw Séamus Quirke (46), Fermoy, Co Cork, standing behind her car at about 2.35am in July 2006.
Ms Barry had returned home shortly before 2.30am on the night in question and was alerted by several banging sounds on the roof of her house shortly afterwards, which she suggested were made by thrown stones.
Ms Barry said she then heard “heavy thumps” which sounded as if someone was trying to force the lever on her front-door handle.
After activating her security system and pressing a panic button, she looked out from an upstairs window and saw Mr Quirke standing behind her car in the front driveway. She then went to get a disposable camera to secure photographic evidence, but said he had left the driveway and was walking away by the time she returned and the subsequent photograph was of poor quality.
Ms Barry also outlined for the court several instances in 2006 and 2007 when she claimed she was followed by Mr Quirke in his vehicle.
Mr Quirke has pleaded not guilty to four charges of harassing Ms Barry from 2005 to 2008 and to one count of criminal damage.