Our dream home became a nightmare and we thought we would be killed, says couple after neighbour jailed for abuse
A THUG told a pensioner he would “bring an army from Ballina” to terrorise him during a year long campaign of intimidation.
But Justin Cawley’s decision to target garden nursery owner Ray Moore, 74, came back to haunt him on Friday after he was jailed for two years, with one suspended, for harassment at Castlebar Circuit Court, Co Mayo.
Friday’s court proceeding also heard how his victim had secretly recorded Cawley yelling abuse at him on October 16, 2019.
In the exchange, Cawley, 32, yelled: “Man, woman and child. One word and I’ll kill ya. Dead stone dead. Dead means dead.”
Although Cawley was jailed for harassment, he also received a six month sentence for driving offences and abusing a Garda in May 2020.
On that occasion, he labelled the officer a “paedophile and a pervert” before he was arrested.
His sentence for abusing the Garda and road traffic offences means he will serve a year and a half in prison.
Speaking exclusively to the Irish Sun, Mr Moore, who established his garden nursery business fifteen years ago, told how his tormentor “deserved to go to prison”
The gardener said: “My wife Margaret and I suffered horrific levels of abuse and intimidation and we just want to get on with our lives.
“I think a custodial sentence was merited in this case and it also shows how abuse of this nature won’t be tolerated by the courts.
“I have felt terrified and traumatised ever since the abuse started – we were living a nightmare and even afraid to go out to our own garden.
“I am almost 75 years of age and perhaps if I was a younger person I would have been better able to withstand his bullying.
“This prolonged chain of events and intimidation has worn me out. I truly believed he would kill me and after he threatened to bring an army from Ballina I was frightened to go out. Each time a vehicle passed our home driving slowly we would go to pieces.”
The innocent businessman’s wife also told how her life had changed beyond “all recognition”.
‘LONG ORDEAL’
She added: “When Justin Cawley moved in beside us our life changed beyond recognition.
“This long ordeal has had such a profound effect on me.
“Our home on the shore of Lough Conn once our dream became a nightmare – I no longer felt safe or indeed wanted to remain.
“When I slept I suffered from terrifying nightmares. I tried to remain awake in case I wouldn’t hear him if he came from us. This left me totally drained and feeling ill.
“Once confident and outgoing I became very insecure and reclusive. I feel that I will neve be the woman I once was. This whole ordeal has left an indelible effect on me.”
Cawley’s campaign of intimidation included leaving a dead pike in their driveway, making false allegations to the Gardai that they were growing cannabis, wrongly accusing Margaret of throwing stones at his child’s bedroom window and contacting a local radio station to play a song associated with funerals.
FALSE REPORTS
Other forms of abuse included targeting them in a road rage incident, making false reports to planning and lying he had been assaulted by Ray.
The first report of abuse was reported to Gardai on October 26, 2019 and lasted for over a year until he was arrested.
The intimidation started shortly after Cawley bought a small plot of land – located beside the couple’s home and business and placing a caravan on it.
At present, the caravan remains on the site and is now up for sale.
It started with trespassing on their land and verbal abuse before escalating.
THREATS TO KILL
A file was then sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions who ruled Cawley should be charged with harassment.
Cawley was also initially charged with making threats to kill before he pleaded guilty to the harassment charge.
Mr Moore also paid tribute to the local community for their support.
He added: “The support that we have received from friends, family and the local community have been fantastic.
“We know that some of our neighbours also suffered abuse but they stood by us.
“I would also like to thank the Garda investigation team for standing by us every step of the way and for conducting a very thorough investigation.”
The investigation into the intimidation was run by Garda Patrick Coleman from Foxford Garda Station under the command of Supt Joe Doherty and Supt Gary Walsh. Investigations from Ballina Garda station were also involved in the probe.