Man accused of harassing Clare TD on Facebook offers to apologise, court told

A man who is accused of sending alleged ‘harassment messages’ via Facebook to a local TD has offered to apologise, a court has heard.

At Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis, Daragh Hassett, solicitor for Sean Kilkenny told Judge Alec Gabbett that his client has offered to apologise to the complainant in the case.

Since the last court date, gardai have put a ‘a cease and desist’ undertaking proposal to Deputy Cathal Crowe on behalf of Mr Kilkenny where Mr Kilkenny would cease any future contact with the Fianna Fail TD.

Providing an update to court, Mr Hassett said that gardai have spoken to the complainant “and there has been a meeting of minds” and the matter can be resolved without going to full hearing. 

Mr Hassett said that he has put his client’s “cease and desist undertaking” in writing.

Seeking a 12-month adjournment of the case, Mr Hassett said that Mr Kilkenny, aged 48, of Tuamgraney, Scarriff, Co Clare said his client works as a roofer and was unable to come to court due to work commitments in Killarney.

He added that he had experienced very difficult times during the Covid-19 pandemic.

While noting the application, Judge Gabbett said he would prefer that the undertaking be sworn by Mr Kilkenny in person in court as it needs to be explained to him in court.

Mr Hassett said that this would be fine and Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to May 7, to allow Mr Kilkenny to attend court in person.

In the case, Mr Kilkenny is charged in connection with the alleged sending of messages to Deputy Crowe on dates between May 4, 2023 and June 26, 2023 to Deputy Crowe.

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The harassment messages charge, preferred against Mr Kilkenny, is under Section 13 of the Post Office Amendment Act 1951, as amended.

Mr Hassett previously told the court that the case concerns “allegation of harassment on Facebook”.

Mr Kilkenny first appeared in court in connection to the charge last July and his bail conditions include that he has no contact with the alleged injured party, Cathal Crowe TD.

Mr Kilkenny first appeared in court in connection to the charge last July and his bail conditions include that he has no contact with the Fianna Fail TD.

The conditions also require Mr Kilkenny to reside at Tuamgraney, Scarriff and to be of good behaviour.