‘Destructive conduct’: Man ‘living in constant fear’ of fellow Longford church member

A member of a church in Edgeworthstown - Mr John Opabola  - who delivered a victim impact statement at a recent sitting of Longford District Court, told of how he “no longer felt safe while out in public” and how he “was living in constant fear” after a fellow church member - 55 year old Bobby Obiekwe of 96 Mostrim Oaks, Edgeworthstown - refused to abide by a court order to stay away from Edgeworthstown's RCCG (Redeemed Christian Church of God) Chapel of Mercy. 

Mr Opabola recounted for the court how Mr Obiekwe's actions  had created such an environment of fear that the children at the church would “cry at the sight of a car in the same colour as Mr Obiekwe’s.”

Mr Opabola's statement was made in advance of Judge Bernadette Owens delivering her judgement on the matters regarding Mr Obiekwe, who was before the court on a number of charges.

In addition to breaking a civil restraining  order on multiple occasions in which he made “threatening gestures towards the applicant, putting him in fear”, he was also charged with having “engaged in threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour.” 

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In presenting his victim impact statement, Mr Opabola told the court that he lived in constant fear that Mr Obiekwe would harm him if given the opportunity. 

He  recalled for the court how during the incidents where Mr Obiekwe breached the court order, “he physically assaulted more than four members of my church, causing physical injuries to at least two people.” 

Mr Opabola continued, “His ongoing disregard for the order has left our congregation fearful and has created an atmosphere of constant fear and anxiety. These repeated violations have had a profound emotional impact on me. I no longer feel safe when I am outside in public. 

“I find myself constantly looking over my shoulder, fearful that he might appear and confront me.” 

Mr Opabola told the court of his struggle with ongoing anxiety adding that  his peace of mind was lost as a result of Mr Obiekwe’s “destructive and intimidating conduct.”

He said he had spent time and money in travelling to the court to file the restraining order, hire a solicitor, and leave his work to attend several court proceedings “because Mr Obiekwe refused to give peace a chance.” 

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Mr Opabola added that it was “especially distressing” for him as he had gone to great lengths to help Mr Obiekwe, even visiting him in prison along with other church goers. 

Mr Opabola explained, “When he was admitted to the psychiatric hospital in Sandyford, the church community offered support and assistance. 

“When he was in Castlerea Prison, I along with other members of the church visited him on numerous occasions to encourage him and help him through that period. After his release from prison, when he was unable to carry out his house chores, the church paid for a carer to visit him weekly and help him manage his home. 

“This support continued for several months, motivated purely by compassion and a desire to help him to rebuild his life. 

“When I began to notice that he was displaying the same troubling behaviour that had led to his previous psychiatric admission, I personally advised him to seek help again. 

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“Unfortunately he refused to do so and his behaviour has since deteriorated to a point where he has become a danger to himself, to members of the church, and to the public at large. 

“Because of his repeated violations of the restraining order, I am living in constant fear that he could harm me if given the opportunity.”

Mr Opabola asked the court to take into account the harm caused by Mr Obiekwe’s actions and to consider the need for measures that would “ensure their safety and protection.” 

Solicitor Díarmuid Quinn, in representing the accused, told the court that his client had an issue with the restraining order. 

He said that while Mr Obiekwe accepted he had breached the order, “he doesn’t accept the order should have been in place, as he feels he shouldn’t have been restricted from attending a house of God, as he puts it.” 

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Prior to delivering her judgement, Judge Bernadette Owens noted that the father of two, Mr Obiekwe, had five previous convictions, the most serious of which was a threat to kill, which dated back to 2011. 

The Judge said she would give Mr Obiekwe credit for the fact that he had pleaded guilty to all charges before the court, but added that she also had to take into account his most serious previous conviction of the threat to kill. 

For breaching the civil order, Judge Owens said she would take into consideration that Mr Obiekwe had been in custody since September 16. 

“It could be argued that I shouldn’t give him credit for the period of time he has been in custody, because he simply refused to sign a bail bond, however I am taking into account that his refusal to sign the bail bond was linked to the main condition - that he wouldn’t attend the church, so on that charge, I am convicting and sentencing him to a period of four months in prison which I’m backdating to September 16.” 

Judge Owens added that in respect of another charge of breaching the civil order, one brought by Garda Rosney,  “I am convicting and sentencing him to six months in prison to run consecutively, and I am suspending that for a period of 18 months on his own bond of €200”. 

The Judge told Mr Quinn it was imperative his client understood that the civil restraining order remained in place and that he was still prohibited from attending the church.

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