Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

A 43-year-old man who pleaded guilty to harassing Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has been given a suspended one year sentence.

"I do not choose to be sexualised in this way, to be in media articles with sexual content. She was worried for her safety, afraid while out canvassing because she had to meet people in person. He admitted sending the messages and said the videos had been downloaded from pornography sites. He began using Facebook to strike up conversations with people. He had stopped drinking in 2017 and became socially isolated. What a great body you have."

A man who harassed Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill ahead of the last general election has been handed a suspended sentence.

The court heard he used a fake Facebook account to harass her. “Unwanted sexual content, to have to receive it at any time of the day, whether it is intended frivolously or in a more threatening way, sending unwanted sexual content is not normal and it is not acceptable.” The court heard he used a fake Facebook account to send her “sexually explicit content.”

Gerard Culhane (43) of Marian Place, Glin, Co. Limerick, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to harassing Jennifer Carroll MacNeill at unknown ...

Taking the mitigating factors into account, Judge Ryan imposed a one-year prison sentence, which she suspended for 12 months on strict conditions. Mr Monahan also confirmed that Culhane had made a donation to Aoibhneas Womens Refuge in Coolock, Dublin, a charity nominated by Ms Carroll MacNeill. Judge Ryan imposed a one-year custodial sentence suspended for 12 months on strict conditions.

Fine Gael's Jennifer Carroll MacNeill was speaking after a man who harassed her over a three-month period was given a one-year suspended sentence.

She continued: “It is not acceptable to send unwanted sexual content. It would have been a “distressing and frightening” experience for the TD to not know the identity of the person harassing her “when she was meeting people on a daily basis,” Judge Ryan said. Judge Ryan said the aggravating factors in this case included the amount of messages sent and the effect the harassment had on the TD during an “important”, “busy and stressful part of her life”. Ms Carroll MacNeill said that while there can be “complexities to being a woman in politics”, the case shows that “these difficulties can be overcome”. “While I recognise that it is not pleasant to be here, indeed I have said already I have absolutely no wish to be here, it is possible to put an end to the experience through the criminal justice system and I hope someone may hear that today.” "The second thing that occurred to me, that morning I got the first video, was that perhaps it had been sent by someone who had already been told by a court not to do this – and so that also needed to be stopped.”

Fine Gael TD spoke of fear for her safety during election campaign as a result of harassment by Limerick man.

She said there “a real actual risk” to her. “We all needed to get on with the job”, she said. Was I going to be attacked?” She said didn’t wish to be “a victim”. “I do not wish to be here,” the Deputy said, before she added that “with every fibre of my being” she didn’t wish to waste the time of the court, the gardaí or the Director of Public Prosecutions. we all have to be here”, she said.

A man who harassed a Fine Gael TD by sending her unsolicited sexual content online during the last general election campaign has been handed a fully ...

In the end the 43-year-old, who is living with his parents in Limerick, admitted everything and said he was sorry. It was in the run-up to the last general election that the harassment took place. A man who harassed a Fine Gael TD by sending her unsolicited sexual content online during the last general election campaign has been handed a fully suspended sentence.

Gerard Culhane sent messages, including three sexually-explicit videos, to Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

She said did not wish to be "a victim". She said she had "a cold sense of dread" and she spoke of a reluctance to smile, to put out her hand and to engage. What a great body you have." She said that "with every fibre of my being I do not wish to be here", adding that she did not want to waste the time of the court or the gardaí. In her victim impact statement to the court, Ms Carroll MacNeill said the harassment from Culhane was "extremely difficult to deal with". Ms Carroll MacNeill did not respond to any of the messages she received.