A man in his 30s who is accused of breaching a barring order by making “mocking” social media posts and sending text messages to his former partner has been granted bail despite Garda objections, with a judge warning the accused that this was his “last chance saloon”.
Tallaght District Court heard that the alleged breaches involve a Facebook post which the complainant said was directed at her, as well as text messages she claimed the accused sent after being released from custody.
The accused man appeared before Judge John Brennan, where Gardaí objected under the O’Callaghan rules, citing fears the man would continue to contact his former partner.
The complainant told the court that she had obtained a barring order in March after an alleged assault.
She said she remained in fear of the accused, describing him as “unpredictable” when he drinks alcohol. She alleged he had sent her messages after being released from custody, including apologies and declarations of love, and that he had mocked her in posts on social media.
Defence solicitor Eddie O’Connor put it to the complainant that she had invited the accused to her home on a number of occasions. The woman accepted this had happened once in June, during what she described as a “relapse” while in treatment for addiction. However, she denied suggestions that she and the accused had resumed a relationship.
The accused told the court that he had not intended to breach the order, saying he wished his former partner well.
He accepted responsibility for a Facebook post about her, adding that his account was private and that the post had since been deleted.
He claimed that he and the complainant had remained in contact, that he had been invited to her home on several occasions, and that there were text messages on his phone to support this. He also told the court they had continued to exchange messages. Under questioning from his solicitor, he denied portraying himself as a “monster” and said he had not intended to intimidate the complainant.
The accused man agreed to stay away from his former partner and abide by any conditions imposed by the court.
Judge Brennan said the breach was “relatively minor” but warned it was “last chance saloon” for the accused, as he granted bail on strict conditions.
He granted bail on the accused man’s own bond of €300, on the condition that he stay out of the complainant’s home area and continue signing on at his local Garda station.
The case was adjourned to 20 October for a plea or a hearing date.