Eoghan Peavoy given suspended sentence for harassment

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Eoghan Peavoy received a five-year suspended prison sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for harassing a barrister. Judge Martin Nolan gave his ruling on 8 March 2024.

Peavoy, 53, of Brackenwood Avenue, Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment of the woman on dates between 8 February 2019 and 23 August 2022. The proceedings were reported on 8 March 2024.

The court heard that the harassment involved texts, emails, voicemails and WhatsApp messages that became increasingly aggressive, threatening, vulgar and sinister. They included sexually abusive messages and threats to kill the woman and her children.

Counsel for Peavoy said he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and harboured “psychotic grievances” against people. Judge Nolan said his culpability was reduced by his condition, but that his culpable behaviour was departing from his medication regime.

Defence counsel said Peavoy had been involuntarily detained in the Aisling Centre of Beaumont Hospital, a secure psychiatric unit, since January 2023. Counsel also said there had been a period of peace since August 2022 and that there was no physical harassment.

The judge ordered Peavoy to take all prescribed medication and not to leave inpatient care unless discharged by an appropriately qualified medical professional. He was also ordered to have no contact with the woman, her family or friends during the five-year suspended sentence and in perpetuity afterwards.