Man who was banned from Ireland for 20 years to face fitness to plead hearing

Olivia Kelleher

A man charged with breaching a court order which banned him from visiting Ireland for 20 years is to face a fitness to plead hearing next week.

Matthew Notman of Laburnam House, Laburnam Avenue, Kirkby in Nottingham in the UK, appeared before a sitting of Skibbereen District Court in west Cork in January of this year.

His appearance in court followed an alleged breach of an order made at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on June 30th, 2022.

The order was that Mr Notman was prohibited from communicating directly, or indirectly with a woman living in West Cork. He was also ordered to stay out of Ireland for two decades.

Sgt Tom Mulcahy previously told Skibbereen District Court that the accusation was that Mr Notman communicated with the woman on Facebook Messenger on November 13th and 14th, 2024.

It was also alleged that Mr Notman entered Ireland by ferry from the UK on November 10th, 2024. The case was sent forward to Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Thursday a sitting of Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard from defence barrister, Paula McCarthy, BL.

Ms McCarthy said that a report from the Central Mental Hospital found that Mr Notman is not fit to enter a plea. A fitness to plead hearing will take place on July 3rd next at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Helen Boyle was told that the State accepted the findings of the report from the Central Mental Hospital.

Judge Boyle said that she was willing to hear evidence from witnesses via video link next week if such a need arises. Free legal aid was previously granted to the accused.