Courts / Dublin / Report

Woman who posted picture of Kriégel murderers 'probably overcome with emotion'

Date
2022-03-09
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Tallaght
County
Dublin

Summary

In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Louise Heaney, aged 49, received a fully suspended 18‑month sentence for publishing photographs of the two boys convicted of murdering Ana Kriégel. Heaney posted a picture on Facebook that identified the boys as "Boy A" and "Boy B" and later removed it. She admitted that the post was made in a "momentary lapse of judgement" and that she was "probably overcome with emotion" after the murder trial, which reminded her of a friend's son who had also been murdered. Heaney had no prior convictions and had been aware of the court order prohibiting the publication of any identifying material. The judge, Martin Nolan, noted that the offence was at the lower end of the scale and that very few people had seen the photograph. The sentence was suspended on strict conditions, and Heaney expressed regret and apologized to the Gardaí. Louise Heaney pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman who posted picture of Kriégel murderers 'probably overcome with emotion'. Charges or matters: publishing photos of Boy A and Boy B on Facebook in contravention of the Children's Act 2001 on June 18, 2021. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Louise Heaney

Convicted Person

Charges: publishing photos of Boy A and Boy B on Facebook in contravention of the Children's Act 2001 on June 18, 2021 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan said that on the particular date, Heaney was "probably overcome" with emotion but that that was no great excuse. Judge Nolan sentenced Heaney to 18 months imprisonment but suspended the sentence in its entirety on strict conditions.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Residence

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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