Courts / Limerick / Report

Man admits to harassing Fine Gael TD

Date
2022-01-27

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Limerick

Summary

A Limerick man, Gerard Culhane (43) of Marian Place, Glin, Co Limerick, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to harassing Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD at unknown places within the State on dates between January 13, 2020 and March 26, 2020. The charge was admitted, and Culhane entered a plea of guilty. The court heard that the accused had indicated a guilty plea well in advance of the hearing. The defence requested a probation report, and the court agreed to order the report. The matter was adjourned for sentence on May 11, next. Culhane was remanded on continuing bail, with conditions including weekly sign-on at a local Garda station and informing gardaí of any change to his address. At a previous appearance in Dún Laoghaire District Court, Detective Sergeant Rachel Kilpatrick detailed that messages sent via Facebook included sexually explicit content and pictures of Ms Carroll MacNeill, which had already been in the public domain. The public representative and Culhane were not known to each other personally. Judge Watkin noted the incident would have been horrific and frightening for Ms Carroll MacNeill.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man admits to harassing Fine Gael TD. Charges or matters: harassing Ms MacNeill TD at unknown places within the State on dates between January 13, 2020 and March 26, 2020; harassing Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 13, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
March 26, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
May 11 Adjournment
2022-01-27 Publication

Case subjects

Gerard Culhane

Accused

Charges: harassing Ms MacNeill TD at unknown places within the State on dates between January 13, 2020 and March 26, 2020 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: She remanded Culhane on continuing bail and adjourned the matter for sentence on May 11, next.; She remanded Culhane on continuing bail and adjourned the matter for sentence on May 11, next.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Td

Accused

Charges: harassing Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill; harassing Ms MacNeill TD at unknown places within the State on dates between January 13, 2020 and March 26, 2020 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: She remanded Culhane on continuing bail and adjourned the matter for sentence on May 11, next.