A 'sustained, persistent and vile' campaign against an unsuspecting former golf manager in Co. Wicklow after one man was left aggrieved by decisions made at Druid's Glen

A businessman with an address in Greystones was handed down a suspended 18-month sentence after admitting to overseeing a "sustained, persistent and vile" campaign of abuse against a Druids Glen Golf Club manager.

The Irish Times reported Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court heard 73-year-old Niall Barry, of Coolnavee, Hillside, Greystones, orchestrated a prolonged campaign against Marcus Doyle via social media posts and emails.

Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin heard Mr Barry has significant grievances surrounding the governance of Druids Glen and subsequently with Golf Ireland after it rejected his complaints.

Mr Barry subsequently targeted Doyle online, using highly derogatory terminology and making allegations about his character and professionalism.

Garda Derek Kelly of Newtownmountkennedy told the court that Mr Barry stood over the claims when he spoke to investigators.

Mr Barry also wrote to hundreds of golf clubs doubling down on his series of allegations against Doyle, despite Mr Doyle having had no involvement in the original complaints.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Doyle said the torrents of abuse hugely damaged his professional reputation and affected his mental health, career prospects and personal relationships.

He told the court the volume of online comments and correspondence was "staggering" and was designed to undermine his standing within the golfing community while undermining his chances of securing further work.

In fact, after he moved to a new role in Woodbrook in Dublin, Mr Barry attended the club in person, to direct further abuse at Mr Doyle in front of staff members.

Barry pleaded guilty earlier this year to sending harmful communications and gis counsel told the court that he had accepted his actions had been unjust and had come to understand the impact they had on Doyle.

The Irish Times reports Mr Barry had offered Doyle €25,000 as a gesture of remorse and had agreed not to contact him in future and to remove any remaining social media posts relating to him.

Judge Ní Chúlacháin imposed an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for five years. As part of the conditions attached to the suspension, Mr Barry must not contact Mr Doyle, directly or indirectly, for a period of 10 years.