Courts / Dublin / Report
Retired garda avoids jail for second time over harassment of woman
Summary
Eamon Moran, 51, a retired detective garda, had an eight‑month custodial sentence for harassment of a woman—sending unwanted texts and calls between 2021 and 2023—fully suspended for two years on appeal. The suspension required him to avoid contact with the victim and her family, stay one kilometre from her home, continue medical rehabilitation, and attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. In October 2024, Judge David McHugh reactivated the sentence after Moran emailed and called the victim in September 2024, breaching the conditions. The victim reported the breaches, citing anxiety and stress. Moran did not contest the breach. Counsel Niamh Ní Aonghusa argued that Moran misinterpreted the non‑relationship and expressed remorse, noting his deteriorating health following a 2012 attack. Judge Sinéad McMullan, considering his health, fully suspended the eight‑month sentence again for two years, reaffirming the conditions of no further contact, distance from the victim's home, ongoing medical care, and AA attendance. The unnamed woman pleaded guilty and was convicted.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Retired garda avoids jail for second time over harassment of woman. Charges or matters: harassment under section 10.1 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, amended by the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- October 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2021 and 2023 Incident
- 2025-06-19 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: harassment under section 10.1 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, amended by the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 (Proven)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; A retired detective garda who was facing jail time after he contacted a woman despite his conviction for harassing her has had his eight-month custodial sentence suspended on appeal. He was sentenced to eight months in custody, which was fully suspended for two years on the condition that Moran would make no contact with the injured party and her family, would continue his medical rehabilitation and would stay one kilometre away from the injured party's home.
Places mentioned
- The District Court
- Blanchardstown
- Blanchardstown District Court
- District Court Appeals Court
- St James's Hospital
Topics
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