Harassment accused considers himself "whistleblower", trial hears

A man charged with harassing a garda sergeant considers himself a whistleblower exposing police corruption, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Sean Carraher, aged 55, of Stradbrook Hill, Blackrock, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to harassing Garda Sergeant Conor Gilmartin between March 2009 and May 2011. The prosecution alleges Mr Carraher posted approximately 50 messages on websites including Rate-Your-Solicitor and Victims of the Legal Profession, accusing Sergeant Gilmartin of corruption and evidence tampering. He is also accused of making between ten and twenty calls to the sergeant. The defendant claims the contact followed a complaint he made to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission regarding alleged assaults on his sons. No findings of wrongdoing have been established against Sergeant Gilmartin. Mr Carraher stated he was exercising freedom of expression rights and invoked comparison with the McBrearty family case in Donegal. The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury.