A 37-year old east Clare man bombarded his harassment victim with calls and messages looking for money over a four year period including texting the man 21 times in the early hours of Christmas Eve 2024, a court has heard
In the case, Keith Quigley of Callaghy, Tuamgraney, Co. Clare has pleaded guilty to harassing Keith Hogan at Dromod, Bodyke, Co Clare on dates between September 14th 2024 and December 27th 2024, contrary to Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
Arising from the hundreds of messages from Mr Quigley to Mr Hogan, Mr Hogan loaned Mr Quigley €42,000 after being put under pressure by Mr Quigley to do so, the court heard.
In evidence, Sgt Declan O’Keeffe told Judge Adrian Harris at Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis that the money remains unpaid by Mr Quigley.
Sgt O’Keeffe said that because of Mr Hogan’s sometimes poor comprehension of situations and what is being said to him, “these challenges have impacted his ability to recognise situations where he may be exploited as he relied on people’s trust and honesty resulting in Keith Hogan being vulnerable to those who may take advantage of him”.
In evidence, Sgt O’Keeffe said that Mr Quigley ‘bombarded’ Mr Hogan with calls and messages looking for money during that time.
Sgt O’Keeffe said that Mr Quigley looked for the money from Mr Hogan on the pretext that he needed more money in order to release loans in order that he could repay Keith Hogan back.
Sgt O’Keeffe said that Keith Hogan made 234 payments to Keith Quigley via Revolut between 2020 to 2024 and there were 159 transactions in all in 2024.
He said that Mr Quigley did return €3,307 to Mr Hogan in 26 Revolut transactions from 2020 to 2024.
Sgt O’Keeffe said that on September 14th 2024, he advised Mr Hogan to stop communicating with Keith Quigley and to stop giving him money.
Sgt O’Keeffe said that in November 2024 Mr Hogan said that the calls and texts from Mr Quigley were ongoing and he again advised Mr Hogan to tell Mr Quigley to stop contacting him.
Sgt O’Keeffe said that the content of the messages worsened from September 2024 to December 2024 when Keith Hogan decided to stop communicating with Keith Quigley.
Sgt O’Keeffe said that did this on November 9th 2024 by text message.
In the text message, Mr Hogan told Mr Quigley ’Keith you owe me €42,000 that I loaned you and you swore to pay me back – I am not sending you any more money.
“You told me that you would send me the money in full from the money you got back from your mother’s healthcare but there is still nothing so unless you send me the money I loaned in full back to me don’t ring me or text me.”
However, contact from Mr Quigley to Mr Hogan had intensified during this September to December 2024 period.
Sgt O’Keeffe said that there were 251 messages and calls from Mr Quigley to Mr Hogan from September 14th 2024 to October 13th 2024.
He said: “There were a further 272 contacts between November 8th 2024 and December 24th 2024 including 21 times on Christmas Eve starting at 1.27am and finishing at 2.41am.
Sgt O’Keeffe said that on December 27th 2024, he called to Mr Quigley’s home at Callehly “and I warned him on that occasion to stop communicating with Keith Hogan and the communication stopped after this intervention”
Solicitor for Mr Quigley, Tara Godfrey said there is no criminality in Mr Quigley’s background “which makes this particular behaviour and situation so alarming”.
Mr Hogan provided a victim impact statement to court but Judge Harris did not read aloud the contents of the statement.
Mr Quigley did write a letter of apology to Mr Hogan and Ms Godfrey read this into the court record.
In the letter, Mr Quigley said “I would like to apologise with the heaviest of hearts to Keith. It was not my intention to cause such harm to such a great friend.
He said: “When I think of the pain and suffering that he has gone through it would be an unimaginable thing. I live daily with the massive amount of pain and suffering I have caused.
“And it is only half the pain I have caused and inflicted on Keith Hogan. He was always a great friend and due to me that friendship has been lost. I apologise unreservedly
He added: “My actions are completely unacceptable and to do it to such a good friend, I do wish I could turn back time and erase all of the pain, suffering and trauma I have caused Keith.
“I would like to apologise for all the heartache I caused him from my actions. I am so sorry for absolutely everything. If I could turn back time I would.”
Ms Godfrey said that Mr Quigley has currently a €35,000 loan application with the credit union.
She said that he is in employment and earns €700 per week and is paying in €200 per week into his credit union account and has built up €8,000
Ms Godfrey said that Mr Quigley has to have at least €10,000 before he can be processed for a loan of €35,000 loan.
Ms Godfrey asked for an adjournment to October to allow Mr Quigley make progress on the loan.
Judge Harris said that would adjourn the case to October but Sgt O’Keeffe intervened to request a shorter adjournment to next month to see evidence of the money being accumulated.
Sgt O’Keeffe said: “I have been dealing with this man for a considerable amount of time and we need to see proof he is gathering the money and that we are not being strung along.”
Judge Harris adjourned the case to July 7th and further remanded Mr Quigley on bail to that date.
