Banned from Laois cemetery over alleged harassment on social media 

A man who allegedly issued threats to a number of people over social media and filmed himself standing over a grave has been banned from a Laois cemetery.   

The man (46) who has a Laois address, but cannot be identified to protect the identities of the alleged victims, is accused of harassment by issuing threats and making allegations about five people on Tiktok and Facebook between September 2023 and July of 2025. 

Garda Billy O’Connor gave evidence in relation to each of the five alleged injured parties.  

He said in relation to a woman “that she was abused by her partner” and “she had been sterilised”. 

In other messages he stated that a man was “a pedophile and a sick bastard” and he claimed the man’s late father was a rapist and sent a video standing at the man’s grave. 

In relation to a third injured party, Garda O’Connor said it was alleged the defendant questioned his sexuality and said “that he gave his partner cancer via sexual intercourse”.  There were alleged to have been 37 videos posted on Tiktok and Facebook between April 18  and June 8, 2025 in relation to the individual. 

It’s alleged he posted videos in relation to another man who is fighting cancer. Garda O’Connor said the defendant is alleged to have stated that the man’s cancer was a result of sex with his partner. He said there was a clip of a headstone in one of the 71 videos published on Facebook and Tiktok between April 16 and June 7, 2025. 

Garda O’Connor said it would be alleged he produced videos alleging that another man was a pedophile and that the man’s children were drug addicts. Garda O’Connor said it would be alleged the defendant threatened to assault the man and produced a sledge hammer in one video.  In total, Garda O’Connor said there were 103 videos directed at this individual between June 26 and July 1, 2025. 

After hearing an outline of the charges, Judge Susan Fay said she was not accepting jurisdiction in the case, meaning it will now go to the higher circuit court. 

Garda O’Connor said while he was not objecting to bail, he was seeking a number of conditions. He asked that the defendant not contact any of the alleged injured parties directly or indirectly and that he remain off social media. 

Judge Fay noted that the defendant enjoyed the presumption of innocence but agreed to include a number of bail conditions. These included that he stay off social media platforms and not contact the alleged injured parties directly or indirectly.  She said he could still use text messages, phone calls and emails but wasn’t allowed to use Whatsapp. He was also ordered to stay out of a cemetery in Laois and a public house in the county. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby requested reporting restrictions due to the sensitive nature of the allegations in the case.  

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick requested legal aid and said her client was in receipt of illness benefit. 

Judge Fay imposed reporting restrictions, granted legal aid and remanded the defendant on bail subject to conditions. She adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on April 13 for service of the book of evidence.