Barrister to be sentenced for 'sexually intimidating' phone messages
A former barrister is to be sentenced for leaving over 120 “creepy” and “sexually intimidating” voicemail messages on a younger colleague’s mobile phone.
Paul McLoughlin of North Circular Road, Dublin pleaded guilty during his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to harassing 30-year-old Lorcan Staines between May, 2006 and May, 2010.
Paul McLoughlin changed his plea to guilty two days into his trial after the jury had heard 62 recordings of voicemail messages left by the barrister on his colleague's phone.
In some of them he said “I want you to be my boyfriend” in another: “You are not available to take my calls, but you are available to play with my emotions.” The phrase “fatal attraction” appeared many times in the messages.
His victim Lorcan Staines told the court he found the behaviour “creepy” and also “sexually intimidating”.
The 50-year-old has apologised for the stress he caused.
The court heard he began abusing alcohol in his 30s to deal with the hurt and pain of the child abuse he suffered.
He no longer practices as a barrister.
