Ireland Case No. 16453Harassment · Co. Limerick
Limerick couple given suspended sentences for harassing dentist
Michael De Sousa, 36, and Emma Maun, 28, a couple from Askeaton, Co Limerick, carried out a harassment campaign against their former dentist, a woman, after she referred Maun to a maxillofacial unit. The conduct included following and watching the dentist in March 2022 and damaging her car, and De Sousa made false statements about her to gardaí. A jury of ten convicted both of harassment after a four-week trial, with the verdict on Thursday 4 July 2024. Both received fully suspended four-year sentences, with a 15-year barring order, and a July 29, 2024 report says they walked free after three weeks in prison.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted11 Jul
- Sentenced29 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The couple carried out a campaign of harassment against their former female dentist.
- The harassment included waiting and staring outside her workplace, following her by car, and falsely accusing her of sexual impropriety.
- De Sousa sent the dentist a vulgar Valentine's Day card in 2022.
- Where
- Maun drove De Sousa to the dentist's home at 4.30am, where he smeared a creamy liquid, later described as pancake mix, over her car, damaging a wing mirror.
- When
- The couple loitered outside the dentist's workplace on 7 to 10 March 2022, and on 14 March 2022 she found her car damaged outside her home.
- Cause
- The harassment started after the dentist told Maun her dental needs were too complex and referred her to a maxillofacial unit.
- Investigation
- Gardaí compiled 54 CCTV clips placing the couple outside the dentist's workplace and near her home.
- Gardaí found a phone belonging to De Sousa containing search and location coordinates for the dentist's home.
- De Sousa made false allegations about the dentist to gardaí at Askeaton and in the city in March 2022.
- Charges
- De Sousa pleaded guilty to criminal damage to the dentist's car and to making false statements about her to gardaí.
- In court
- Both defendants contested a single harassment charge, and a jury of ten convicted both after a four-week trial, with the verdict on Thursday 4 July 2024.
- The defendants apologised through their barristers but did not accept the jury's verdict, and were remanded in custody.
- Sources differ on the sentencing date: one says sentencing was set for 26 July, while another says they were sentenced on Monday 8 July 2024.
- Sentence
- Each defendant received a fully suspended four-year sentence for harassment, and De Sousa received concurrent suspended sentences of 12 months for making a false report and six months for criminal damage.
- Both were ordered not to contact the dentist by any means and to stay 200 metres from her home or workplace for 15 years.
- Other details
- The defendants face a maximum of ten years in prison, the dentist said she feared for her safety, and the judge described the couple's fixation as bizarre and irrational.
31 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe couple waged a campaign of intimidation and harassment against their former dentist. (thejournal.ie)
- whatDe Sousa sent the dentist an extremely vulgar card on Valentine's Day 2022. (thejournal.ie)
- whatMaun followed the dentist by car from her workplace on her route home in March 2022. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe creamy liquid was pancake mix, and a wing mirror on the car was damaged. (thejournal.ie)
- whatDe Sousa made false statements of sexual impropriety against the dentist at two garda stations after she made a formal complaint. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe couple carried out a campaign of harassment against a female dentist. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe harassment included waiting, watching and staring at the dentist outside her workplace, following her while driving, throwing pancake mix over her car, falsely accusing her of sexual impropriety and sending a vulgar Valentine's Day card. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereMaun drove De Sousa to the dentist's home at 4.30am, where he smeared a creamy liquid over her car. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe couple loitered outside the dentist's workplace on 7 to 10 March 2022. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenOn 14 March 2022 the dentist found her car damaged outside her home. (limerickleader.ie)
- causeThe harassment started after the dentist told Emma Maun that her dental needs were too complex and referred her to a maxillofacial unit. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí compiled 54 CCTV video clips placing the couple outside the dentist's workplace and near her home. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí found a phone belonging to De Sousa containing search and location coordinates for the dentist's home. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationDe Sousa made false allegations about the dentist to gardaí in Askeaton and in the city in March. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeDe Sousa pleaded guilty to criminal damage and two counts of making a false report or statement to gardaí. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtDe Sousa pleaded guilty to making false statements about the dentist and to causing criminal damage to her car. (thejournal.ie)
- courtBoth defendants contested a single harassment charge and were convicted by a jury of ten after a four-week trial. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe defendants issued apologies through their barristers but did not accept the jury's verdict. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe couple have been remanded in jail pending sentence. (thejournal.ie)
- courtDe Sousa and Maun will be sentenced on July 26. (thejournal.ie)
- courtA jury found both accused guilty of harassment after a month-long trial on Thursday 4 July. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe judge remanded the couple in custody on 4 July before sentencing them on Monday 8 July. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceEach accused received fully suspended four-year sentences for harassment. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceDe Sousa received concurrent 12-month suspended sentences for making a false report and a six-month suspended sentence for criminal damage. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceBoth accused were ordered not to contact the dentist by any means and to stay 200 metres away from her home or workplace for 15 years. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherMaun and De Sousa share an address at Sheehan’s Flats, Askeaton, Co Limerick. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe defendants face a maximum of ten years in prison. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe dentist said she feared for her safety during the campaign of harassment. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe judge described the couple's fixation with the victim as bizarre and irrational. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe court heard that De Sousa and Maun did not accept the jury's verdict. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe couple walked free from court after spending three weeks in prison. (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 29 Jul2024Limerick couple who harassed dentist and 'smirked and smiled' during trial walk free from court
Reports the sentencing of both accused after a month-long jury trial, including suspended sentences, a 15-year barring order, and the judge's remarks; De Sousa also pleaded guilty to criminal damage and false reports.
convicted, Emma Maun, 28, female, named, irish (judged from name)Emma Maunconvicted, Michael De Sousa, 36, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Michael De Sousavictim, female - 11 Jul2024Couple facing up to 10 years in jail after convictions for 'bizarre' harassment of dentist
Reports the jury convictions after a four-week trial, the prosecution's account of the harassment, the dentist's victim impact statement, and that sentencing is set for July 26. Adds the CCTV, phone and false-statement evidence and the maximum penalty of ten years.
convicted, Michael De Souza, 36, male, namedMichael De Souzaconvicted, Emma Maun, 28, female, named, irish (judged from name)Emma Maunvictim, female