Lahive harassment case adjourned to December

The case against Ross Lahive of The Irish People’s Party on a charge of harassing a librarian at Cork City Library in 2023 arising out of protests about a publication called This Book is Gay appearing on a shelf for teenagers, was further adjourned yesterday.

Defence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said full disclosure of prosecution evidence to the defence had yet to be made and he asked for the matter to be further adjourned. Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case until December 8 at Cork District Court.

The Director of Public Prosecutions decided that the case is to proceed by indictment whereby it will go to trial by judge and jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. 

Alternatively, the defendant could enter a signed plea of guilty at Cork District Court and be sent to the circuit court for sentencing.

The prosecution alleged that recordings the accused made of his interactions with the librarian were posted on his Facebook page accompanied by comments describing the book as ‘grooming’, Sergeant Gearóid Davis said previously. 

He alleged that each of eight videos was accompanied by comments from parties, allegedly including Ross Lahive, variously describing the librarians as the epitome of evil, diabolical and doing Satan’s work.

Ross Lahive, aged 46, of Church Street, Shandon Street, Cork, faces the single charge that on dates between February 26 and May 6, 2023, within the state he harassed a librarian, contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.