Man jailed after sending 'terrifying' letter to Laois Operation Transformation star

A Laois psychologist and television personality told a court he had to take a month off work and install a new home security system after receiving a “terrifying” letter. 

Paul Mangan (59) of 25 The Green, Liffey Hall, Newbridge, Co Kildare pleaded guilty to sending a threatening or grossly offensive letter communication with intent to cause harm at Portarlington Enterprise Centre, Canal Road, Portarlington on October 31, 2023.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby told a sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the injured party was in court and wished to deliver a victim impact statement. He told Judge Andrew Cody that the injured party wished to waive his right to anonymity. 

Judge Cody said “if the victim agrees then reporting restrictions don’t apply.” 

Garda Rebecca Cleary told the court a typed letter was hand delivered to Dr Eddie Murphy’s place of work on October 31, 2023. The accused was identified as the person who had delivered the letter, said Garda Cleary. 

Sgt Kirby said Dr Murphy had initially believed it was a mass card as his mother had died a week earlier. However, the letter contained an “allegation that he was having an affair with the accused’s wife.” 

Judge Cody was given a copy of the letter which he described as “appalling” after reading. 

“It is shocking, it is disgusting and despicable. I think they are the only three words that come to mind at the moment. It must have been terrifying,” said Judge Cody.  

He asked about the man’s caution statement to gardai. 

Garda Cleary read the statement where the man admitted delivering the letter. He said he didn’t see Dr Murphy or make any attempt to see him. “The gist of it was, stay out of my family’s affairs,” he told gardai.

“There was no physical threat nor would I dream of it,” the man had told gardaí. 

Defence solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client was cooperative with gardaí and was a staff nurse in the mental health services who worked in St Patrick’s Hospital in Dublin. 

Sgt Kirby said Dr Murphy was in court with his wife and had prepared a detailed victim impact statement.

Dr Murphy took to the stand and read the victim impact statement which was prepared on his behalf and on that of his wife. 

He said the letter was a violation of his home and work life and had caused psychological damage and stress. He said the man, who was unknown to him, had warned of "vengeance" and was “saying I will destroy you. I will confront you at your office.”

Dr Murphy said neither he or his wife had ever met the man before and the letter wasn’t a misunderstanding but had been intentional. 

He described the letter as “explicit, calculated and terrifying” and said the author was “utterly ruthless”. 

“He said I would be hearing from him up close and personal,” Dr Murphy stated.  

Dr Murphy said his wife, who had been diagnosed with cancer,  was “forced to endure extreme stress” as a result of the incident.

He said he had developed anxiety, hyper vigilance and suffered from low mood in the wake of the incident. “I felt no longer safe in public,” he said. He said the letter could have easily been posted on an online forum and the man threatened to contact his superiors. 

He told the court that he had installed security cameras, alarms and security lighting and turned his home into a fortress following the incident. He had a month off work as a result of the letter. He said his public profile was put under threat and the incident impacted on his work and his wife.

“Christmas ‘23, ‘24 was overshadowed by this event,”  said Dr Murphy.   

“We just want this person out of our life and a sense of safety,” he said. 

“We appreciate the work of An Garda Siochana  and the courts,” said Dr Murphy. 

“I will not be making any further comments on this matter,” he concluded.   

Judge Andrew Cody noted the man was a complete stranger and neither Dr Murphy or his wife had met him before. 

Dr Murphy explained the man’s wife works in the HSE and he is her manager. “I manage over 40 psychologists,” he explained. 

Dr Murphy said he didn’t know the man  but he had worked with the man’s spouse on and off in the HSE for the past 20 years. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said “there was no publication of it. It was a letter that was addressed to you.” 

Dr Murphy said “I don’t know that.” He said the man had “threatened numerous things” in the letter.  He said the man had walked into his place of work and he asked, “what would have happened if I was in?” 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client had written a letter of apology to Dr Murphy. 

“I don’t want to receive any further letters from him,” said Dr Murphy. 

“I came here (Portlaoise District Court) a month ago and was here all day and he never showed up,” said Dr Murphy. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client had been “overwhelmed” at the prospect and had an incident which required attendance in hospital as a result. “It affected his ability to come to court,” she said. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant had no previous convictions. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client, who is originally from Mayo, had been married for 20 years and was recently separated. She said he graduated as a nurse at the age of 24 and worked in St Patrick’s Hospital. 

“He has had 38 years of an unblemished career in mental health work,” she said. 

“He firmly believed that his wife was having an affair with Mr Murphy,” said Ms Fitzpatrick. 

She said when he confronted his wife, “she asserted that he was suffering from a delusional mental disorder.”  

Ms Fitzpatrick said the letter was addressed only to Dr Murphy but she acknowledged “the ripple and consequences” it caused. 

“The accused never intended to harm Mr Murphy,” she said. 

Judge Cody reminded Ms Fitzpatrick of the charge her client has pleaded guilty to. 

“A core element of the crime is an intention to cause harm,” he said. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said “he appreciates that the impact has been profound on Mr Murphy.” 

“We absolutely accept that Mr Murphy, his wife and his children are the victims in this,” said Ms Fitzpatrick. 

She said her client had brought a letter of apology and €3,000 to court. She said there had been “a great deal of consequences” for her client who was now separated and whose family home was being sold. 

“The letter was written at a time when he was venting having been accused of suffering with a delusional mental illness,” Ms Fitzpatrick said. 

Judge Cody said to describe the letter as “grossly offensive” would be an understatement. “It is as bad as you can get in terms of name calling and the allegations,” he said. 

He said the letter was sent with the intention of causing harm. 

“The fact that this would be sent by a mental health professional is equally shocking,” he said. 

Judge Cody said he would hate to think that any of his family would be treated in a hospital where the accused worked. 

He said he was “somewhat bemused by the DPP’s directions” not to hear the case in the higher court.  He imposed a four month prison sentence and ordered that the €3,000 be given to Dr Murphy. 

Dr Murphy asked that the €3,000 be donated to the 'A Lust for Life' mental health charity for children.

Ms Fitzpatrick said her client had no previous convictions and she asked the judge to consider a probation report. “It is an appalling but single incident,” she said. 

Judge Cody said the "despicable and disgusting conduct deserves nothing short of a more substantial sentence.” 

However, he said he was restricted to a six month sentence and he allowed credit of two months for the plea of guilty. 

Ms Fitzpatrick then asked the judge to fix recognisance in case of appeal. Judge Cody fixed recognisance on his own bond of €1,000 with €500 in cash “subject to him having no contact whatsoever” with Dr Murphy or any of his family members.

The man lodged an appeal of the sentence before the court sitting had ended.