Student accused of harassing 17-year-old girl appears before Cork District Court 

A STUDENT, aged 19, accused of harassing a 17-year-old girl, was arrested and brought before Cork District Court yesterday.

Sergeant John Dineen arrested the teenager and brought three separate charges against him arising out of the alleged offences.

Firstly, he was charged that between January 1 and May 15 in Cork city, he harassed the named girl, contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Secondly, he was charged that between January 1 and April 21, he did send threatening or grossly offensive communication to the teenager with intent to cause harm, contrary to the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act.

The third charge under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act refers to allegedly engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour on May 14 in Cork city centre.

Judge Mary Dorgan asked if there was an objection to bail being granted to the young man.

Sgt Dineen said there was no such objection but that strict conditions were required.

Solicitor Shane Collins-Daly said the defence was in agreement with those conditions.

He is to have no communication either in person, directly or indirectly, on social media platforms with the teenage girl, or by any electronic devices.

He is to have no contact directly or indirectly with her friends, family, and associates. He is not to harass, follow, watch, pester, or beset the 17-year-old.

The defendant is not to come within 200m of her, he is to stay away from her school or surrounding areas, and to stay away from her family home.

On the application of Sergeant Gearóid Davis, Judge Dorgan adjourned the case until September 18 to allow time for directions to be obtained from the DPP.

The complainant cannot be identified under the Children’s Act and it is understood that naming the accused would lead to identification of the 17-year-old girl