Woman felt like ‘prisoner’ in her own home

Close to a dozen people turned up to act as witnesses in the case against a man who all but terrorised his “vulnerable” neighbour, leaving her on the brink of constant emotional distress, and generally made a nuisance of himself in the community.

Shopkeepers, a local bus company operator and even the dog warden were among those who appeared ready to testify when Finbar Manning, a 42-year-old defendant with 88 previous convictions, some for violent behaviour, appeared at Cavan District Court.

The number of witnesses present in court “speaks volumes” remarked Judge Raymond Finnegan.

“They’re fed up,” said prosecuting Garda Inspector Michéal O’Donoghue amid a lengthy summation of what occurred ever since Manning moved into the small cul-de-sac estate at Tycusker, Arvagh.

Garda Barry Clarke gave evidence after Manning, through his barrister Niamh Murtagh Quinn BL, pleaded guilty to a charge of harassment against his near neighbour Ellen Glover over a three-year period, from November 2021 to November 2024.

The harassment charge, which carried a maximum 12-month sentence, was recommended by the Director of Public Prosecutions, with similar offences against two of Ms Glover’s children - John ‘Jay’ Ryan and Megan Ryan, from May 2022 to November 2024, taken into account.

Manning also admitted making a threat to damage Ms Glover’s home; handling several hundred euros worth of stolen property at his home address on November 5, 2024; and the theft of €10 from Centra in Arvagh on August 15, 2024.

There were guilty pleas too for Manning using threatening or abusive behaviour at Farnham Street, Cavan Town on November 5, 2024; on dates between September 1-30, 2024; at Main Street, Arvagh between August 1 and September 30, 2024; and again on November 5, 2024.

The harassment of Ms Glover got so bad, the court heard, that a family WhatsApp group set to organise a holiday soon became overridden with shared reports of Manning’s activities, and used to help counsel the injured party through her most difficult times.

Gda Clarke said Ms Glover has, over years, been on the “receiving end of ongoing harassment” by Manning. Incidents like Ms Glover entering her back garden could result in her having to deal with Manning appearing at his back upstairs window staring at her and hurling abuse.

The court heard that Manning would “roar and shout” at Ms Glover calling her “a rat”.

“He’d threaten if she talked to the gardaí or the council that he’d get people to come down from Dublin,” said Gda Clarke.

Another time, on the way home from hospital, while getting off the bus Manning “blocked” her path and “got into her face” asking, “What are you going to do now?”

So “frightened” was Ms Glover to leave her house that she retreated into herself to the point that her children had to run simple errands for her, such as fetching the shopping.

Manning moved into the council-owned Tycusker estate back in December 2020. There were so many incidents of harassment following that, said Gda Clarke, they all “blurred into one” for Ms Glover who effectively became a “prisoner in her own home”.

On one occasion, when the council dog warden attended Ms Glover’s home following complaint of dog fouling in the area, he found her “so afraid” she was barely able to speak. “He could see the fear in her face.”

Ms Glover’s already poor health has “exacerbated” further due to the stress caused by the defendant’s behaviour, noting that on the three occasions the garda spoke with her she had “broken down” in tears.

“She’s in fear for her safety,” said the garda of Ms Glover who one day exited her property to find a liquid squirted on the ground that smelled like an accelerant.

The account given, Gda Glover said, could be corroborated by the numerous witnesses present in court. But since Manning went into custody back in November last year, Ms Glover appears a “different person”. He said it had taken “a lot” for her to muster the courage to come to court, so worried was she about seeing Manning again.

Evidence was also given of how Manning harassed Ms Glover’s two older children - her son on the bus, and by intimating to hit him in Cavan Town, and her daughter by appearing at her car window and running after the vehicle when she drove off.

The harassment went so far that Ms Glover and her daughter both invested in CCTV for their respective homes.

The stolen items recovered from Manning’s home - a Tipperary Crystal watch (€50) and necklace (€25) and three lamps (€209.55) - were taken from a local shop with the defendant and another person identified on CCTV.

The €10 taken involved a “change scam” where Manning claimed not to have received the correct amount after a purchase.

Judge Finnegan was told by Gda Clarke that before Manning, neighbours in the Tycusker estate all “got on”. They’d cut the grass and meet each other. “That all changed when Manning moved in.”

The judge asked if the local authority had “done anything” with regards to dealing with the matters before the court. Sergeant Cathal Buggy responded by confirming that a process is “in motion”.

Among Manning’s 88 previous are convictions for “a lot” of public order, assault and assault causing harm, burglary and theft.

Manning’s barrister Ms Murtagh Quinn, instructed by solicitor Brid Mimnagh, said Manning was in a long-term relationship. She said some of his offending occurred at a time when the accused was in the grips of addiction. He had received support from the Peter McVerry Trust, but admittedly suffered “a relapse”.

She said Manning had his “own stress” too from living in the Tycusker estate but didn’t elaborate.

Regarding the rest however Ms Murtagh Quinn claimed her client was holding his “hands up”.

The charges, Judge Finnegan said, were “very serious” and any attempt at gleaning leniency was negated by the fact that Manning has sought to have his cases listed for hearing initially.

He imposed a nine-month sentence, back dated to when Manning first went into custody, on the charge of harassing Ms Glover; and gave him four consecutive two-month prison sentences for the three handling stolen property charges and the sole theft.

The judge also imposed a three-month consecutive sentence for the threat to damage Ms Glover’s home, taking into account all other charges.

“I don’t think the people of Arvagh can live much longer with that kind of situation,” said the judge, who fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal.

He further imposed a Section 10 order, which requires Manning to have no contact with Ms Glover for a period of five years.