A judge has given an east Clare man, who bombarded his harassment victim with calls and messages looking for money, a deadline of February 2nd of next year to repay his victim €36,000 – or else he will go to jail.
At Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis, Judge Adrian Harris said that Keith Quigley (38) had behaved appallingly towards one time friend, Keith Hogan who is out of pocket €36,000 as a result of Mr Quigley’s harassment.
In the case, Mr 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.
Judge Harris said to Mr Quigley “some friend you turned out to be” before giving him until February 2nd to come up with the €36,000 otherwise he will go to prison for six months.
Judge Harris said that the two men played on the same hurling team and their parents were great friends.
Mr Quigley obtained €42,000 from Mr Hogan and has repaid only €3,370.
Judge Harris read from Mr Hogan’s victim impact statement where he said that Mr Quigley “told me his mother was diagnosed with cancer and he was demanding money knowing that my own mother had passed away from cancer”.
Mr Hogan was in court with family members for the sentencing hearing and Judge Harris asked Mr Quigley “did your mother have cancer?”
Mr Quigley said that she had. He told Judge Harris: “There was a time when I did borrow money for certain things for my mother when she was out of work and there was an issue with her health insurance.”
Judge Harris said that Mr Hogan had engaged in “appalling and outrageous behaviour”.
Judge Harris said that “the breach of trust here is huge and ongoing and has had a profound impact financially and emotionally on Mr Hogan”.
Judge Harris said that in his sentencing he was giving Mr Quigley credit for his early guilty plea, his letter of apology and that was the first serious offence he has been convicted of.
Judge Harris imposed a six month sentence on Mr Quigley but suspended only on condition that Mr Quigley pay €36,000 to Mr Hogan by February 2nd.
Solicitor for Mr Quigley, Tara Godfrey said that her client has €9,850 in his credit union account but the most he could obtain from the credit union to help pay the remaining monies to Mr Hogan was a €5,000 loan.
Mr Quigley said that he currently works in Dublin and has spoken to his employer about working from his family home in Co Clare where he would save money on not paying rent in Dublin.
Sgt Declan O’Keeffe previously told the court that Mr Quigley ‘bombarded’ Mr Hogan with calls and messages looking for money during that time.
In his letter of apology, 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.”
