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Man who harassed female journalists won't face further jail time for offences committed while awaiting trial

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan imposed a new three‑year sentence on Brendan Doolin, 41, for a single count of harassment committed between August 2018 and August 2019. The sentence was suspended for three years on strict conditions and will run consecutively with the suspended portion of his earlier five‑year sentence, which had two years suspended. Doolin had previously been jailed in November 2019 for harassing six female journalists, sending them hundreds of abusive online messages from May 2012 to February 2018. He admitted breaching bail conditions by contacting the victims and was warned that any further breach would bring him back before the court and result in prison time. The court noted Doolin had not reoffended since his release in December 2021 and that the new sentence would take effect in December. The hearing heard that the victims had submitted impact statements but were not present in court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man who harassed female journalists won't face further jail time for offences committed while awaiting trial. Charges or matters: one count of harassment on dates between August 8, 2018 and August 6, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• November 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 2012 Other
• February 2018 Other
• August 8, 2018 Other
• August 6, 2019 Other
• December 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2023-05-23 Publication

Why: "He doesn't even operate computers now, he doesn't go near them because he's afraid and he knows that there are orders in place," said Mr Spencer, pointing out that Doolin continues to cooperate with the Probation Service. CNI source report

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Read the original CNI report