Man claimed in Cork court that RTÉ was bugging his phone

A man has appeared before Cork District Court having allegedly breached a court order which banned him from attending at the premises of RTÉ Cork and from contacting its staff in the city.

Shane Matthews, of Harbour Row in Cobh, Co Cork, last appeared before the court on July 29. On that occasion the court heard that he had allegedly breached the order on July 17 by shouting outside the RTÉ Cork building on Fr Mathew Quay in the city.

Garda Tracey Fleming said that the 47-year-old allegedly stated: “I will be back again and again and again”.

When Mr Matthews appeared before the court on July 29, he was charged with engaging in threatening behaviour. He claimed in court that RTÉ were bugging his phone. He blamed RTÉ for losing information that he had written on his Samsung device. Mr Matthews was remanded in custody to appear before the court again last week, for DPP directions.

Last Wednesday, at Cork District Court, solicitor Diane Halahan stood in for defence solicitor Eddie Burke. She asked that the case be adjourned until after mid-August to allow for the case to be dealt with by Mr Burke.

Sgt John Dineen told Judge Monica Leech that the DPP had directed summary disposal on the two counts of criminal damage. In February, Mr Matthews appeared in court, charged with criminal damage at RTÉ Cork. Judge Leech then remanded Mr Matthews in continuing custody until August 17 next.

Meanwhile, Mr Matthews has been on similar bail conditions since he was first charged in February of this year. He was also charged with threatening behaviour on June 17 having allegedly breached the terms of his bail by shouting abuse and threats outside RTÉ Cork on June 10.