A judge has described the actions of a woman who sent a doll with the eyes cut out to a relative who had suffered a series of miscarriages as “insidious and wicked”.
Ann Patrica Quinn, (62) from Bramble Wood Manor, Dungannon, initially denied using threatening or abusive behaviour but changed her plea ahead of contest, however, this turned out to be equivocal as she accepted sending the parcel but denied knowing what it contained.
It was only at sentencing on Wednesday at Dungannon Magistrates Court where she was warned she was facing prison that she accepted all aspects of the case.
It was explained on February 20, 2024, the victim received a package to her workplace and on opening this discovered the baby doll with the eyes cut out and a card stating: “To the desperate wanna be babymaker. Love from your best aunties in Cookstown.”
A similar sympathy card had been received the previous year with the message “LMFAO” (Laughing my f***ing ass off) .
The victim suspected Quinn as she had been “goaded” by her before.
Enquires revealed the package was posted from the Post Office at Oaks Road, Dungannon the day before it was received.
CCTV footage showed Quinn carrying the package and she was arrested.
She admitted posting the package but denied knowing what it contained, claiming it had been given to her by a male she named as Mr McKee.
District Judge Francis Rafferty remarked: “This unfortunate victim suffered a series of miscarriages, and the defendant posted a package containing a doll with the eyes scratched out and she claimed it was simply a coincidence that she was asked to post it.”
The defence conceded that had been Quinn’s position, including while she was being interviewed for a pre-sentence report, however, she now fully accepted she was responsible for the entire episode.
The judge welcomed this and said: “The court was not going to accept for one second she didn’t know. I don’t think wicked is a strong enough word.”
The defence advised Quinn cares for a child relative, and while there was nothing of this nature on her criminal record, she does have convictions for harassment and dishonesty.
“It was a despicable act which she wishes to apologise for and move on with her life,” said the defence.
Addressing Quinn directly, Judge Rafferty stated, “You adamantly denied knowing the disgraceful, wicked contents of that package. Any right-thinking member of society would take a disgusted view of sending a parcel to a woman you knew had suffered a series of miscarriages.
“You went to the trouble of procuring a doll, scratching the eyes out, put an offensive note in with it, packaged it up and posted it to the victim. You must have felt very pleased with yourself while you sat thinking about the victim’s reaction to such an insidious, disgraceful sight.”
He noted when confronted Quinn denied involvement until shown CCTV footage at the Post Office, when she accepted sending the parcel while unaware of the contents.
“You adamantly maintained that and only as prison gates were swinging open, you finally, from somewhere in a dysfunctional quagmire, you accepted guilt. It does you no credit whatsoever. You are a thoroughly dishonest person. Custody is fully warranted, yet you cite your role in caring, responsible for an extended family child relative.
“I only hope Social Services reconsider your suitability to care for anyone given your evil actions against a woman who has struggled for a child. It’s hard to think of a more wicked, callous act.”
Quinn was sentenced to four months imprisonment suspended for two years, and bound by a Restraining Order for three years.
