Gary Mairs: The Gift That Keeps on Giving (to the Prison System)
Ah, Gary Mairs, a man who’s been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. It’s like he’s trying to set a new record for "Most Creative Ways to Annoy the Authorities." This 48-year-old charmer from Ballymena, Northern Ireland, has just been sentenced to prison for stalking, witness intimidation, and breaching a restraining order. Because, you know, the first time didn’t stick.
Now, I’m no lawyer, but it seems to me that Gary’s got a bit of a track record. In 2017, he was handed a suspended sentence for breaching a combination order. What did he do, you ask? Well, he decided to spice up a school sports day by hurling abuse and stones at teachers. Because, why not? I mean, who doesn’t love a good game of "Dodge the Drunk Guy with a Grudge"? The poor kids had to be ushered into the assembly hall for safety. I’m sure it was just a normal day in the life of a St Colmcille’s primary school student: math, reading, and the occasional drunk dude yelling about paedophiles and Jimmy Savile.
But back to Gary’s latest escapades. He pleaded guilty to offences committed between September and November last year. Because, you know, the courts love a good game of "How Many Times Can We Tell This Guy to Stop?" Gary contacted his victim multiple times, sent her messages through a third party asking her to drop the charges (because, subtlety is not his strong suit), and engaged in a course of conduct that amounted to stalking.
Now, I’m not sure what’s more impressive: Gary’s dedication to being a pain in the neck or the victim’s ability to keep a straight face while dealing with this clown. I mean, the guy claimed he had cancer just to get her to talk to him. I’m no expert, but that’s some next-level manipulation right there. The victim, of course, was having none of it, suspecting it was just another one of Gary’s tricks.
The judge, however, was not amused. He jailed Gary for a year, with an additional year on licence and a three-year restraining order. Oh, and let’s not forget the cost of embarrassing the judicial system: Gary’s extensive record includes convictions for harassment, wasting police time, and the persistent improper use of telecommunication networks. Yeah, that’s a real mouthful. I’m sure his mom is proud.
The judge noted that stalking is a serious offence that involves a "pattern of harmful and abusive behaviours… it is persistent and intrusive and causes fear of violence and distress" for victims. Ah, but Gary’s just a charming guy who likes to make an entrance. I mean, who needs a social life when you can just tag someone in an Instagram post calling them a "tout"? That’s just good old-fashioned fun.
All joking aside, stalking is a serious issue, and it’s good to see the authorities taking it seriously. Gary Mairs might think he’s just a lovable rogue, but his actions have real-life consequences. Let’s hope he takes this time to reflect on his behavior and maybe, just maybe, gets some help. Or, you know, just stays in prison and saves everyone the trouble.
And that’s a wrap, folks. If you’re Gary Mairs, I hope you’re enjoying your new accommodations. If you’re a victim of stalking, please know that you’re not alone, and there are resources available to help. And if you’re just a concerned citizen, well, just be glad you’re not Gary Mairs.
Gary Mairs Enters Guilty Pleas to Stalking, Witness Intimidation, and Breach of Restraining Order
Gary Mairs, a 48-year-old man from Andena Grange in Ballymena, was sentenced to prison and handed a three-year restraining order by Judge Alistair Devlin at Antrim Crown Court. Judge Devlin stated that Mairs will serve an additional year on license to protect the victim, who has been left with severe psychological trauma.
During the hearing, Judge Devlin expressed his scathing remarks towards Mairs’ actions, stating that his breaches of the restraining order and overall behavior “reveal a deliberately settled and conscious determination, and a total disregard for court orders and authority.” This behavior includes Mairs contacting the victim within hours of being released from custody.
In the initial hearing, Mairs entered guilty pleas to the offenses of stalking, witness intimidation, and breaching a restraining order between September 20 and November 23 of the previous year. These offenses were classified as domestic abuse, exposing Mairs’ disturbing behavior towards the victim.
The details of the charges indicated that Mairs repeatedly contacted the victim through multiple phone numbers and social media platforms, asking her to drop the charges against him, which demonstrates the severity of his harassment.
The court also learned that Mairs rang the victim’s workplace, a local fast-food outlet, knowing she worked as a delivery driver, and ordered food to be delivered to his home in an attempt to intimidate her further.
However, the fast-food outlet’s owner, aware of Mairs’ reputation, cancelled the order, sparing the victim further distress. Judge Devlin noted that the victim was already experiencing immense stress and anxiety due to Mairs’ actions, which kept her from going to work that day.
In his remarks, Judge Devlin emphasized that the offense of stalking was the most severe due to its persistent and intrusive nature, which can cause fear and distress to the victim, particularly as Mairs had previously been convicted of harassment and other related crimes.
In 2017, Mairs received a suspended prison sentence for breaching a combination order after engaging in disorderly conduct at St Colmcille’s primary school, where he shouted abuse at teachers and staff, revealing a disturbing history of violent behavior.
