Man accused of sending TD 'harassment messages' offers to apologise, court told
Gordon Deegan
A man accused of sending "harassment messages" via Facebook to Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe has offered to apologise to the politician, a court has heard.
At Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis on Tuesday, the solicitor for Sean Kilkenny (48), of Tuamgraney, Scarriff, told Judge Alec Gabbett that his client has offered to apologise to the complainant in the case.
Since the last court date, gardaí have put a "cease and desist" undertaking proposal to Mr Crowe on behalf of Mr Kilkenny, where Mr Kilkenny would cease any future contact with the Clare TD.
Providing an update to court, solicitor Daragh Hassett said gardaí had spoken to Mr Crowe and there had been "a meeting of minds" and the matter can be resolved without going to full hearing.
Mr Hassett said he had put his client’s “cease and desist undertaking” in writing.
The solicitor said Mr Kilkenny had gone through very difficult times during the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr Kilkenny works as a roofer and was unable to come to court as he has work in Killarney, he said.
Mr Hassett 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 and that the undertaking needs to be explained to him in court.
Mr Hassett said this would be fine and Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to May 7th to allow Mr Kilkenny to come to court to give his sworn undertaking.
In the case, Mr Kilkenny is charged over an “allegation of harassment on Facebook”.
Mr Kilkenny first appeared in court in connection to the charge last July and his bail conditions include that he has no contact with the alleged injured party, Cathal Crowe TD.
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 3rd at Tuamgraney, Scarriff.
