Courts / Dublin / Report
Man who harassed Sharon Ní Bheoláin is jailed for three years
Summary
Conor O'Hora, 41, of Portmarnock, was sentenced to three years in prison for harassing RTÉ newsreader Sharon Ní Bheoláin and for three counts of possessing child pornography. He pleaded guilty to harassing Ní Bheoláin between March 2013 and January 2014, which involved posting over 30 altered photographs of her on a website and engaging in 40 sexually explicit and violent online conversations. He also pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing child pornography on a mobile phone and a computer hard drive, with 93 images of children aged eight to 17 found on his devices. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months, and ordered O'Hora not to contact Ní Bheoláin. He was also required to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 18 months under probation supervision. The court noted his cooperation with Gardaí and his efforts at rehabilitation. The co‑accused received an 18‑month suspended sentence earlier this year.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who harassed Sharon Ní Bheoláin is jailed for three years. Charges or matters: harassing Ms Ní Bheoláin between March 27, 2013 and January 7, 2014; three counts of knowingly possessing child pornography on a mobile phone and on a computer hard drive at Station Road, Portmarnock on February 18, 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 27, 2013 Incident
- January 7, 2014 Incident
- February 18, 2014 Incident
- January 17, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018-05-17 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: harassing Ms Ní Bheoláin between March 27, 2013 and January 7, 2014; three counts of knowingly possessing child pornography on a mobile phone and on a computer hard drive at Station Road, Portmarnock on February 18, 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan condemned O'Hora's "insidious form of harassment" and "debasing behaviour" and handed down a four-and-a-half year sentence with the final 18 months suspended. "The information on her will be out there forever," said the judge, who also ordered O'Hora not to seek to contact Ms Ní Bheoláin in any way. "I've no doubt it caused considerable distress to the complainant and her family. The final 18 months of the sentence were suspended on the basis of O'Hora's mitigation, including the hope for his reform and the steps he has already taken towards rehabilitation.
Convicted Person
Charges: harassing Ms Ní Bheoláin between March 27, 2013 and January 7, 2014; three counts of knowingly possessing child pornography on a mobile phone and on a computer hard drive at Station Road, Portmarnock on February 18, 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Sharon Ní Bheoláin has been jailed for three years for this and three counts of possessing child pornography. Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan condemned O'Hora's "insidious form of harassment" and "debasing behaviour" and handed down a four-and-a-half year sentence with the final 18 months suspended. "The information on her will be out there forever," said the judge, who also ordered O'Hora not to seek to contact Ms Ní Bheoláin in any way. "I've no doubt it caused considerable distress to the complainant and her family.
Places mentioned
- Station Road
Topics
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