Retired garda avoids jail for second time over harassment of woman
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.
The District Court Appeals Court heard that Eamon Moran (51) has suffered ill health ever since he was attacked on a 2012 deportation flight and was recently in intensive care.
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Moran, with an address in Perrystown, Dublin 12, harassed a woman by sending her unwanted texts and calls on dates between 2021 and 2023.
He originally pleaded guilty before the District Court and was convicted of 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.
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.
His jail sentence was reactivated by Judge David McHugh at Blanchardstown District Court in October 2024 after the court heard Moran had contacted the woman by email and phone after his conviction.
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The victim reported the breaches to gardaí, saying that his actions caused her some anxiety and stress.
The court heard that Moran had sent an email and then called the victim on two different days in September 2024, which went unanswered. It was found that Moran had breached the conditions of his suspended sentence and he did not contest this in the District Court.
Counsel for the appellant, Niamh Ní Aonghusa BL, on Thursday told the District Court Appeals Court that Moran 'misinterpreted this non-relationship' and is "very much apologetic" to the victim.
She said he has no intention whatsoever to contact the victim again.
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Ms Ní Aonghusa said that Moran's health has been in decline since an incident in 2012 in which he was on a flight that was deporting people in his duty as a garda when he was attacked by a man with a razor blade.
She presented several letters from medical professionals which said that Moran suffered a stroke, had a hole in his heart and had a liver condition.
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She said that he was recently in intensive care in St James's Hospital and that the muscles in his legs have depreciated.
Judge Sinéad McMullan said that this is 'obviously a very serious matter' and that no one should have to deal with harassment.
She said there was a clear court order that Moran 'clearly breached', but she also took into account that he was recently very unhealthy.
Judge McMullan decided to fully suspend the sentence of eight months for a period of two years on the condition that Moran in no way attempt to contact the injured party ever again, stay one kilometre away from her house, continue to receive medical attention and attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
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