AN EAST Clare man accused of sending alleged “harassment messages” via Facebook to Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe has offered to apologise to the Dáil deputy, a court has heard.
At Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis, a solicitor for Sean Kilkenny (48), of Tuamgraney, Scarriff, County Clare, told Judge Alec Gabbett that his client has offered to apologise to the Clare TD.
Gardaí previously put a cease and desist undertaking proposal to Deputy Crowe on behalf of Mr Kilkenny, where Mr Kilkenny would cease any future contact.
Providing an update to court, Daragh Hassett, solicitor for Mr Kilkenny, said that Gardaí have spoken to the complainant, claiming that “there has been a meeting of minds” and the matter can be resolved without going to full hearing.
Mr Hassett said that Mr Kilkenny has gone through very difficult times through the Covid-19 pandemic, works as a roofer, and was unable to come to court as he had work in Killarney. The solicitor asked that the case be adjourned for one year.
Judge Gabbett said that he would prefer that the undertaking be sworn by Mr Kilkenny in court, where the undertaking would be explained to him.
Mr Hassett said that this would be fine, after which Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to May 7 to allow Mr Kilkenny give his sworn undertaking in court.
In the case, Mr Kilkenny is charged with causing annoyance, inconvenience, or needless anxiety to another person by sending a message that he knew to be false to another person without reasonable cause to Cathal Crowe.
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. His bail conditions include that he has no contact with Mr Crowe. The conditions also require Mr Kilkenny to reside at Tuamgraney, Scarriff, and be of good behaviour.
Mr Kilkenny is also charged with obstructing Garda Joe Kearney acting under the authority of a warrant issued under Section 10 of the Criminal Justice Act on July 3 at Tuamgraney, Scarriff.
