Courts / Dublin / Report
Man 'hated' by 'Antifa' has jail sentence for sending 'grossly offensive' messages overturned
Summary
Craig Fitzsimmons, aged 51, had a two‑month jail term for sending "grossly offensive" messages replaced by a fully suspended sentence on appeal. He was convicted in the District Court for two counts of sending threatening or grossly offensive communication under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020. The original sentence was two concurrent four‑month terms with two months suspended. Fitzsimmons appealed, arguing that he was "hated by people connected with Antifa" and that prison would be a hazardous environment due to alleged threats against his life. Defence counsel Edmund Shanahan said Fitzsimmons had received a barrage of threats and that the judge should have made special provisions. Judge Fiona O'Sullivan suspended the entire four‑month sentence for six months, conditional on Fitzsimmons keeping the peace and not contacting the injured party by any means, including social media. Craig Fitzsimmons pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man 'hated' by 'Antifa' has jail sentence for sending 'grossly offensive' messages overturned. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- September 2, 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 24, 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-10-16 Publication
Why: Defence counsel for Fitzsimmons, Edmund Shanahan BL, said that his client "behaved unwisely" because he was under extreme pressure due to alleged threats he had received. Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Craig Fitzsimmons (51) said that people had allegedly threatened to kill his client if he were sent to prison and that the original trial judge should have made special provisions, instead of putting him at "great risk" with a custodial sentence. He was convicted and sentenced to two concurrent sentences of four months with two months suspended.
Places mentioned
- District Court Appeals Court
Topics
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