Trial starts of Garda accused of harassing colleague in Dublin
A Dublin-based Garda has gone on trial for harassing another officer through Facebook and the Garda Pulse system.
Donal Maguire, who is from Bundoran in Co. Donegal, admits harassing her but has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
A red and white Valentine’s Day card with a rose on the front was shown to the jurors this afternoon.
It was sent in 2012 by Donal Maguire to his colleague, who was based at a Dublin Garda station at the time. He was stationed at Áras an Uachtaráin.
The handwritten note inside finished with the words: “With love and eternal gratitude, yours Donal”.
She initially thought it was a prank but confirmed he had sent it by checking the signature against his Garda records.
She told him his approach was “unwanted and unwelcome” and that she had no romantic interest in him.
He contacted her a week later with a trivial work issue and then bombarded her with emails on the Garda Pulse system.
He later showed up at a road race she was competing in and a criminal investigation was eventually launched after he sent her a Facebook friend request in October 2012.
Donal Maguire has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
