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Cynthia Mulligan Victim Impact Statement Calls Out Mike Bullard Harassment As Abuse

"I am here today because I refuse to be a victim," said the Toronto reporter.
Former broadcaster Mike Bullard pleaded guilty to making harassing phone calls to his ex-girlfriend, CityNews reporter Cynthia Mulligan.
Fred Lum/Globe and Mail via CP/Twitter
Former broadcaster Mike Bullard pleaded guilty to making harassing phone calls to his ex-girlfriend, CityNews reporter Cynthia Mulligan.

A Toronto TV reporter, who was harassed by her former broadcaster and comedian boyfriend, shared a powerful victim impact statement in court.

"Harassment is an ugly thing, It seeps into your mind and destroys your sense of peace and security," said Cynthia Mulligan on Friday. "I'm going to call it what it is — it is abuse."

Mike Bullard, who hosted CTV's late-night talk show "Open Mike" in the late '90s, pleaded guilty to one count of making harassing phone calls, as well as failing to comply with bail conditions, reported The Toronto Star.

I'm told a friend of his defended him by saying 'all he did was love her.' That wasn't love. It was abuse.Cynthia Mulligan

He and Mulligan, a reporter for CityNews, had broken up after dating for eight months. In 2016, Mulligan went to the Toronto police after receiving a flood of text messages and anonymous phone calls from a pay phone.

Three other charges of criminal harassment, obstruction of justice, and breaching a court order against Bullard were dropped on June 1.

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"And you were abusive in so many ways, driving by my work, endless texts and phone calls, often while I was on air, despite the fact I clearly told you to stop," wrote Mulligan, in an original, unedited draft of her victim impact statement, which was posted in its entirety by her friend and fellow TV reporter Avery Haines on Facebook.

A different version read by Mulligan in court included amendments required by the judge to remove claims that are not supposed to be in a victim impact statement, including unproven allegations.

"You abused your power as a radio host as well, threatening to talk about me on your show if I didn't do as you ordered," Mulligan said in court.

"No woman should ever have to go through this simply because she ended a relationship."

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