'Neighbour from hell' allegedly threw urine around house

Judge Jacqueline Linnane also granted Anthony Healy injunctions restraining next-door neighbour Martin O’Donnell from entering or interfering with the use and enjoyment of his property, and from throwing objects, food, stuff and liquids on his property.

Judge Linnane dismissed a counter-claim from O’Donnell, who had entered a full defence to Healy’s claim.

Barrister Conor Bowman had told the court that Healy had been for the past six years the victim of a continuous campaign of nuisance and intimidation against him and his property at Glengarriff Parade, Off North Circular Road, Phibsboro, Dublin, by neighbour O’Donnell.

Mr Bowman, counsel for postman Healy, said O’Donnell had thrown urine, chicken bones and skin and food scraps on a regular basis on the front door of Mr Healy’s house.

Healy claimed that O’Donnell would leave rubbish, porridge and dog droppings around his house, pouring urine over them from a tetra pack carton. He said O’Donnell had trespassed on several occasions in his back garden.

Healy, who is originally from England, said O’Donnell was verbally abusive towards him, calling him an “English bastard.” He claimed O’Donnell had also threatened to “kill him and put him in a body bag.”

The court heard Healy’s car had been damaged so frequently that he was unable to park it on the street outside his home and had to pay for private parking elsewhere.

Healy told the judge that O’Donnell would also leave his radio at a high volume, bang on his bedroom wall and knock on his front door and window at night to keep him awake. The court heard Healy had to wear earplugs.

Healy said he inherited the property after his partner, Liz Toolan, had passed away in 2006. He said he had been in grief after her death and had never done anything to upset O’Donnell.

He claimed O’Donnell had before been engaged in a similar campaign against a previous neighbour.

“It seems to be his nature that he has to have a go at somebody,” Healy told the court.