A Cork woman who was the victim of a sustained campaign of harassment has said she fears the perpetrator, who is due for release from prison next week, could be “back with a vengeance” and do harm to her and others.
Laura O’Connell, who was among several people Sonya Egan harassed and made serious false allegations about, said there is little support for victims in such situations when a person is about to be released from prison.
Speaking to Deirdre O’Shaughnessy on the Irish Examiner podcast, she said: “The nerves, the anxiety. [Her impending release] triggers it a little bit. The fear, the worry, the unknown.
“It’s creeping in again, unfortunately. I’ve had three years of lovely peace and quiet.”
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Incidents against Ms O’Connell dating back to 2018 included the fabrication of untrue and odious rumours intended to destroy her good standing in the community. Egan would also turn up at Ms O’Connell’s lectures in University College Cork, as well as at her home multiple times a day during the harassment campaign.
In June 2022, Egan, of The Lawn, Lios Cara, Killeens in Cork, was jailed for two years, with a further year suspended over a campaign of harassment against Ms O’Connell and former Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien.
In May 2023, she was also sentenced to six years in prison with the last two suspended, after the court heard the “pathological liar” had nearly “destroyed the lives” of several people, including spreading false claims on social media about social workers and gardaí.
“I cannot begin to understand the harm and devastation caused to these unfortunate, professional people,” Ms Justice Catherine Staines said at the time.
She is now set to be released after serving less than three years of that sentence.
Ms O’Connell said despite being vindicated against Egan’s crimes in court, the rumours spread about her have “stuck”.
“It’s my reputation,” she said. “Unfortunately, it’s tarred despite having my name now cleared. But this could very easily start up again and this is what I’m worried about.”
She said the criminal justice system “really doesn’t work” for people in situations like herself, and she is left to pick up the pieces despite the risk she now feels when Egan is released.
“The outgoings that I’ve to spend [money on], whether it’s security measures or therapy, or medical reasons, they’re extremely expensive and any victim of crime does need psychological support — short term and long term,” she said.
“What is there and what is available where I can keep myself safe and sound without having to go to the extremes of moving? I don’t want to be running away. I’m happy in my little bubble as well, so I don’t want that bursting anytime soon.”
In a statement, the Irish Prison Service said it did not comment on individual prisoner cases.