A family has been bombarded with “slanderous” anonymous hate mail for years from someone they think they know well. 

It all began in January 2020 when a letter arrived at Susan and David Plower’s home in County Galway. 

It was the beginning of an upsetting new phase in their lives.

“It was addressed to our eldest son, he wasn’t even 18 at the time,” Susan told Lunchtime Live.  

“He was only doing his Leaving Cert and... it was coming from supposedly a concerned parent. 

“The letter went on to say that Calum was involved with drugs.” 

The handwritten note was a “massive shock” to the family and Susan went pale with horror. 

The Plowers quickly realised there was no truth to it and reported it to the Guards, who advised it might just be a one off. 

Sadly, it was not and another letter arrived two weeks later. 

“The Guards took over from then because the whole letter thing kind of exploded,” Susan said. 

“We’re into our fifth year now; really not a month goes by. 

“We might have the odd six weeks where there won’t be something but then it [arrives].” 

Soon the letters began to arrive at their workplaces, their friends’ homes and even the houses of family members. 

Gardaí believe letters must have to other people who have not even come forward as well.

“It’s bizarre, it’s crazy,” Susan said. 

David described the letters as “very disturbing” due to the “very accurate” knowledge of the family’s whereabouts at precise times. 

“They made slanderous comments about myself having extramarital affairs, et cetera,” he said. 

“Baseless comments about my work and they continuously comment on where we are at any given time. 

“I remember on one occasion, Susan phoned me as the letter had come to her work and she said, ‘Do you remember my appointment last week in the hospital? Well, they have an accurate account of the time and date when [I] was there.’

“This is, I suppose you could call it terrorism.” 

Although the couple have received a lot of support from their family, it has “taken its toll” on them - especially as the culprit is clearly “someone who knows us pretty well”. 

“They’re openly taunting us,” David said.

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Main image: Susan and David Plower. Image: The Plowers.