Man pleads guilty to ‘revenge porn’ against former girlfriend

A 26-year-old man has pleaded guilty to harassing his former girlfriend by posting sexually explicit photos of her online along with links to her Snapchat account.

It is the first prosecution of its type relating to image-based abuse – more commonly referred to as ‘revenge porn’ – to come before the courts in Galway.

Judge Mary Fahy imposed restrictions, prohibiting publication of the man’s identity when he was first brought in custody before Galway District Court last October and those restrictions are to remain in place for the present.

Garda Paraic Moran gave evidence in October of having arrested and charged the man with harassing his former girlfriend on a date unknown between August 1, 2015 and July 10, 2019, contrary to Section 10 (1) and (6) of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

The accused made no reply when the charge was put to him at the time.

The Director of Public Prosecutions directed the charge could only be dealt with at District Court level if the man entered a guilty plea.

His solicitor, Brian Gilmartin, informed the court last week his client now wished to plead guilty to the offence.

Judge Fahy remanded the accused on continuing bail to give Gardaí time to obtain an impact statement from the victim before proceeding to sentence at a later date.

Bail was granted in October on condition the man make no contact with the complainant or any witnesses, by any means to include social media; continue to reside at his rental address in the city and notify Gardai of any change of address within 48 hours; sign on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Garda HQ at Murrough, Renmore; observe a nightly curfew between 10pm and 6am; be of good behaviour and remain of sober habits; and provide a mobile phone number to Gardai and answer his phone to them at all times.

Judge Fahy added a further condition prohibiting the man from accessing Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok and all other social media platforms, pending completion of the case.

She awarded him free legal aid and also warned him that if he broke any of the bail conditions it was likely he would end up in custody, due to the seriousness of the charge he was facing.