08/02/2008

NI Football Legend Quits Ulster

Former Northern Ireland footballing legend Gerry Armstrong is quitting Ulster because his wife Debbie is suffering a campaign of harassment from a stalker.

For 20 months Debbie has been subjected to a high volume of crude and abusive text messages as well as some abusive phone calls. All the incidents have been reported to the PSNI.

A spokeswoman for the PSNI said police had received a report of harassment and that a man had been questioned and cautioned.

She was pregnant with the couple's baby daughter Marianna when the pestering text messages began, a close friend of Debbie's has said.

Her friend, who does not want to be named, said: "It's really angered her and upset her, but she refused to change her mobile number because she said she didn't want to give in to this person."

She also added that the texts would come on a Saturday and Sunday when Gerry was away.

Gerry - a Northern Ireland international football legend and the team's former assistant manager - confirmed the harassment and added that he knew who was behind it.

"We decided to sell up a few months ago because Debbie just doesn't want to live here anymore. She feels like she's been terrorised in her own home and there's the uncertainty that the calls and texts may start up again at any time."

(GC)






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