Courts / Dublin / Report
'Self-appointed judge, jury and executioner' who shared photo of Kriégel killer avoids jail
Summary
Leeanda Farrelly (49) was found guilty of publishing a report likely to lead to the identification of a child involved in criminal proceedings after she reposted a photo of 'Boy A', one of the boys who murdered 14‑year‑old Ana Kriégel, in a closed Facebook group on 19 June 2019. The image was posted with text encouraging others to share it. Farrelly removed the post after about 20 minutes but had already attracted police attention. She pleaded guilty in November 2023. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a fully suspended nine‑month sentence, noting that Farrelly's actions were a "self‑appointed judge, jury and executioner" and that she had little regard for the law. The court highlighted that the children were protected under the Children's Act and that the orders prohibiting their identification were in place to safeguard the judicial process.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Self-appointed judge, jury and executioner' who shared photo of Kriégel killer avoids jail. Charges or matters: a charge of publication of a report likely to lead to the identification of a child involved in criminal proceedings. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 19, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 14, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 18, 2019 Incident
- July 27, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-03-20 Publication
Why: Farrelly told gardaí said she got annoyed because she has two girls and a large number of nephews and nieces and didn't understand that the boys being prosecuted needed to be protected as well. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: a charge of publication of a report likely to lead to the identification of a child involved in criminal proceedings (Alleged Or Contested)
Defendant
Charges: a charge of publication of a report likely to lead to the identification of a child involved in criminal proceedings (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Imposing sentence today, Judge Pauline Codd said this was a case where "ignorance of the law is no defence." She described Farrelly as a "self-appointed judge, jury and executioner", who herself had "little or no regard" for the road traffic laws and is "not a person who is perfect herself". Imposing a fully-suspended sentence of nine months, Judge Codd said Farrelly seemed to have been motivated by "a sense of grievance and annoyance" and a "misplaced sense of need to protect".
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Central Criminal Court
- Kilmartin Avenue
- Tallaght
- friends. She attended Tallaght Garda Station
- Tallaght
Topics
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