A man took his kitchen chair to spy on a woman he became obsessed with.
The man, Peter Quinn, appeared at Falcarragh District Court charged with stalking and harassing the young woman.
Quinn, a 49-year-old fish farm worker, admitted calling to the young woman’s home after becoming obsessed with her.
The court heard that Quinn initially waited outside the shop where the woman worked.
A colleague told her that the man had been following for her some weeks but she initially thought nothing of it.
However, she began to notice he would be outside the shop as she went for her lunch and then also in the evenings.
When interviewed by Gardai, Quinn, of Dunmore, Falcarragh, admitted stalking the woman but said he could not explain why he was doing it.
He admitted spending his lunchtime outside the shop where the woman worked hoping to catch sight of her.
When she looked in his direction, he said he would pretend to be on his mobile phone.
He also admitted calling to the woman’s home in a different town and spying on her on at least eight occasions.
He took a kitchen chair which he cut the back off and stood on it outside her home.
The court was told that he could then see the woman inside the house between her curtains.
The woman said she became very worried and feared for her safety.
In a statement to Gardai the woman said “I felt like I was seeing him everywhere. I felt sick, violated and disgusted that he was watching me at my home. I became afraid because I didn’t know what he would do next.”
Solicitor Frank Dorrian said his client admitted to developing an unhealthy obsession with the young woman.
“My client tells me how he became infatuated with this lady. He has expressed his apologies and is adamant that nothing further will come of it.
“He has put himself in a very dark place and he now has an insight into the wrongdoing and the harm it has caused. He apologises to her and he poses no threat to her. He developed an unfortunate infatuation,” he said.
Quinn pleaded guilty to a single sample charge of stalking/harassment at Main Street, Falcarragh and Carrigart on April 1st, 2015.
Judge Paul Kelly adjourned the case until October for a Probation Report on Mr Quinn.
Garda Inspector Sean Grant asked for an order of the court be granted that Mr Quinn has no contact with the victim in the case.