A DONEGAL nurse has told of how she was left living in “a state of fear” and “feeling suicidal” following a sustained campaign of harassment over a 12-month period by her neighbour.
Rebecca McCollum said she “still looks over her shoulder” and “continues to attend counselling” following the harrowing series of incidents perpetrated by Francis Lynn, which began shortly after she moved into Glenveagh Court in Letterkenny.
Mrs McCollum delivered a powerful victim impact statement at Letterkenny District Court of Monday of how the actions of Lynn have not only affected her but her wider family.
She told of how having been a nurse in Letterkenny University Hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic, she had to make the decision to leave due to the impact of the harassment by Lynn. She now works elsewhere in the HSE.
Lynn (41), who is currently in custody in Castlerea Prison, is charged that on dates unknown between September 10, 2019 and August 28, 2020, he harassed Rebecca Boggs.
He is charged that on October 25, 2019, at Glenveagh Apartments, Justice Walsh Road, he did steal one fuse.
Lynn is further charged that on May 22, 2022 at 9 Milltown Court, Kilmacrennan, where he was previously residing, he did have a knife in his possession, and caused damaged to a blue Honda car and was behaving in a threatening manner.
Lynn is also charged with threatening and abusive behaviour against Garda Derek Connaughton on Pearse Road, Letterkenny, on July 7, 2022.
LETTER
The court heard how soon after moving into Glenveagh Court with her then boyfriend, now husband, Mrs McCollum found a typed letter under her front door.
The document set out how they were to open and close their doors without making any noise, that they were not to use electrical appliances such as washing machines, tumble driers outside of certain hours, and that there were to be no parties.
Having first thought it was a joke, the couple contacted the management company who informed them that they had not sent the letter.
On October 1, 2019, a no smoking sign was placed on the front door of the apartment, which also featured Mrs McCollum’s nurse pin registration number.
“I felt intimidated. I don’t smoke, my mother-in-law had been smoking in the hallway the day before. It made me feel like someone was watching me, and that someone had gone online to get my nurse pin number,” Mrs McCollum said in her evidence to the court.
CCTV footage was shown to the court of Lynn by the communal fuse box area shortly before power went out in Mrs McCollum’s apartment during a small gathering she was hosting following the graduation of Mr McCollum’s sister from university.
The court heard how when the Covid-19 pandemic arrived, Mrs McCollum was living in the apartment alone due to her job as a nurse.
“He (Lynn) was always shouting at me, ‘move out, fat b***c’,” said Mrs McCollum.
On another occasion, front door locks were damaged, while during a separate incident the couple had eggs thrown at them as they walked along the road outside their apartment.
FINAL STRAW
Mrs McCollum said the final straw came when a letter was sent to her mum Iris, who was going through treatment for cancer at the time, and who had just lost her own mum.
The letter stated how Mrs McCollum was being verbally abused by her boyfriend and that she could be heard crying on the phone to gardaí.
“The letter went on to say that my parents needed to immediately remove me from the accommodation,” said Mrs McCollum.
“The sender signed off the letter saying they were very sorry to hear about the death of my mother’s mum. It was signed by concerned neighbours of your daughter.
“My mother couldn’t understand who would send this letter, particularly a few days after my grandmother had passed away. My mother had cancer at this time and I was working on the Covid ward so I couldn’t see her.
“He found out my parents’ names and their address in order to send them that letter. I felt like I was being watched all the time.”
Cross-examining Mrs McCollum, solicitor for Lynn, Catherine Taaffe asked if she had personally witnessed who had damaged the locks to her door, or who had thrown the eggs. She replied that she had not.
Detective Garda Eimear Hassett gave evidence of how on August 26, 2020 she was on duty in Letterkenny Garda Station when Rebecca Boggs and Michael McCollum arrived and wished to speak with gardaí privately.
She told the court that she carried out an investigation into who sent the letter to Mrs McCollum’s mum.
Ms Taaffe told the court that her client has a speech impediment and has autism.
Judge Vincent Deane described the matter as “extremely serious”.
He said: “I accept and wholeheartedly understand that Mr Lynn has autism which impacts his behaviours and prioritises his own needs but there are ways of dealing with that, and I am satisfied that this is a case of harassment that was perpetuated on Ms Boggs, and has had a serious effect.”
The court was told Lynn, who has a number of previous convictions, has been in custody for seven months.
Judge Deane asked Mrs McCollum if she would like to make a victim impact statement to the court, to which she agreed.
She outlined how she has since left her job at Letterkenny University Hospital and is working elsewhere in the HSE.
LIVING IN FEAR
“It has affected my mental health. I am on anti-depressants. My husband and I have a stronger relationship because of it, we went on to get married but I was suicidal and I was living in fear. I still have to look over my shoulder. I am still in counselling now. It also had a massive impact on my family, especially my mother who was sick at the time.
“I took three months off work. I left where I was working at the hospital because I couldn’t concentrate after what had happened.”
Ms Taaffe told the court her client was diagnosed with cancer in October 2024 and is continuing to undergo treatment for this.
She produced a psychologist assessment report, outlining the many difficulties of her client.
“He has been diagnosed with anti-social behaviour disorder, and the report highlights that he needs psychotherapy to address his mental health.
“I would ask the court that when they deal with Mr Lynn that they would seek a probation report. At no point has he been able to engage with probation services, it has only been prison.”
Judge Deane agreed to grant the order for a probation report. He ordered that Lynn have no contact with Mrs McCollum.
“I want the injured party to know that she can go about her life and have the full protection of the gardaí and the State if there is as much as a murmur.”
The case was adjourned to April 14 to allow for an emergency probation report to be carried out in Castlerea Prison.
For the charge of having a knife and damaging the Honda Civic car, of which a number of witnesses gave evidence, Judge Deane handed Lynn down a nine-month sentence.
“This was premeditated. The knife was up his sleeve. There are no mitigating factors at all.”
Judge Deane dismissed the charge of threatening and abusive behaviour against Garda Derek Connaughton.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the 24-hour Samaritans helpline freephone 116 123, email jo@samaritans.ie
Visit www.samaritans.ie for more information
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