Rhode woman speaks out after suffering 8 year hate mail campaign

A Rhode businesswoman claims that she has been the victim of an eight-year anonymous harassment campaign.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent this week, jewellery maker Angela Burns said that she decided to speak out following the tragic death of TV presenter Caroline Flack to highlight the fact that it's not just celebrities who receive hate mail.

Ms Burns says that she started to receive anonymous abusive letters in the post around eight years ago, but the frequency has increased in recent months.

The author of the letters regularly makes insulting comments about Ms Burns's social media posts, which are often related to the promotion of her business, Chocolate Box Jewellery.

Her partner, the former All Ireland winning footballer Johnny Mooney has also received mail to her home from the same source.

"It's very abusive. I know they are watching everything we do. It's creepy that we don't know who it is.

"They send him stuff like Valentine's cards and love letters to him to my house even though he has his own house. They are trying to cause trouble but it's not working."

Ms Burns posted a selection of the abusive cards and letters she has received on Facebook this week to raise awareness of the issue and says that she has been overwhelmed by the messages of the support she has received.

She went to the Gardai this week to report the abuse and says that they were very helpful.

"I have more important things going on, such as trying to run a business and helping with my new grandchild. This is a pure waste of time.

"You do get a bit paranoid about it sometimes and start wondering about who is sending them. It's really silly and cruel but I have gone through tougher things than this rubbish. It's just stupid stuff.

"People should look at their own house and instead of mine and should be kinder."