2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Delete it' - Judge orders man off Facebook after he breaches Safety Order
A judge has told a man to delete his Facebook account after he breached a domestic violence Safety Order by posting 'Well done Louis' when congratulating a newly elected Sinn Fein TD on his ex-wife's Facebook page.
At Gort District Court, Sgt Claire Henaghan said that the post caused the woman 'great distress'.
In the case, the man posted 'Well done Louis' under a photo on Facebook of newly elected east Galway TD, Louis O'Hara (SF) celebrating being elected to the Dail.
The man - in his early 60s - pleaded guilty on December 2 to contravening a Safety Order in place since September 2022 in that he made contact with his ex-wife by electronic means by commenting on her Facebook page belonging to her.
Judge Alec Gabbett told the man: 'Come off Facebook. Delete it. Do you need to be on Facebook? Is it adding to your life? I doubt it very much.'
Judge Gabbett said that in the future rather than congratulate the TD on Facebook, he should send a card.
Judge Gabbett described the offence as 'a very technical breach'. He said: "This was the man waving a flag and coming a little bit close to his ex-partner for my liking.'
With two previous convictions for breaching the same Safety Order, Judge Gabbett said: 'There is an underlying current here which I don't like. This must stop today."
He said: 'This lady needs to be left alone. She has a five year order which speaks volumes and judges don't hand out five year orders like confetti. I rarely make five year orders."
Sgt Henaghan said that it was the third time that the man had breached the Safety Order having already been convicted on two previous convictions.
Sgt Henaghan said that it was very obvious 'that it was his ex wife who shared the post'.
Solicitor, Colman Sherry for the man said: 'I was surprised that something like this would end up in court.'
Mr Sherry said that his client had met the case in the proper fashion by pleading guilty. He said: 'He now understands that he can't do anything like this again in the future.'
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From the body of the court, the man said it was 'a genuine mistake' stating that he had voted for the TD in the general election.
Judge Gabbett said: 'I understand that these things can happen.'
He said: 'Ludditery comes into it sometimes - men and women of a certain age who use Facebook may not be fully au fait with what is happening.
Judge Gabbett said that he would adjourn the case for one year in order that he can monitor the man's future behaviour.
He told him: 'You just have to keep your nose clean and stay out of this lady's life completely."
Judge Gabbett told the man he is at risk of going to prison after three breaches of the Safety Order.
The man agreed when Judge Gabbett said he had never seen the door of a prison.
Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to June 25, 2026.
