Ireland

Garda sergeant 'sent abusive letters and emails to state solicitor'

A Garda sergeant has been found guilty of sending abusive letters and emails to a state solicitor
A Garda sergeant has been found guilty of sending abusive letters and emails to a state solicitor A Garda sergeant has been found guilty of sending abusive letters and emails to a state solicitor

A GARDA sergeant has been found guilty of sending abusive letters and emails to a state solicitor.

Eve Doherty (49), a Dublin-based officer, denied harassing Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013.

Letters and emails were sent to Ms Howlin's home, her workplace and to her GP. Posters which alleged she was corrupt were also left around her housing estate

Ms Howlin, who worked at the time with the Director of Public Prosecutions, said she found the material very upsetting.

Sgt Doherty, had denied writing the material but an examination by gardaí, found similar grammatical errors between the emails and documents found in her work locker.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Sgt Doherty was then in a relationship with Ms Howlin's ex-partner but that the lawyer did not know the Garda sergeant until the trial.

Sgt Doherty denied making false statements in March 2012 claiming Ms Howlin was perverting the course of justice.

A jury yesterday acquitted her of these charges.

Sgt Doherty will be sentenced on October 27.