‘Trojan efforts’ praised in outraging public decency case

A man who followed customers including children in a Tralee supermarket while masturbating three years ago has “made Trojan efforts” Tralee Circuit Criminal Court has been told and is to be given the Probation Act.

Iosach Ó Riain, aged 27, of Mount Eagle Rise, Leopardstown Heights, Dublin 18, pleaded guilty in 2014 to two charges of “outraging public decency”, contrary to common law.

At Tesco, Manor West, Tralee, “a public place and within view of members of the public”, he had masturbated himself in public, a lewd and obscene act which outraged public decency, on June 26 and June 27, 2013, the charges said.

Judge Thomas E O’Donnell at the finalisation of the matter at this session of the Circuit Court in Tralee recalled how gardaí had been alerted by staff at a store in Manor West on June 26, 2013, and told that a male was masturbating and following customers and children in store.

Gardaí were in the store on the second occasion, June 27, and they arrested him. CCTV footage was also available.

Ó Riain was a single man, who at the time was not working, had a previous conviction in 2012, for this type of offence.

“This is a serious matter particularly in the context of a previous conviction,” the judge said. However, he was satisfied, following “extremely positive” reports from the Probation Service , that Mr Ó Riain had made progress.

Brian McInerney, defending, had also told the court his parents were with him in court in Tralee and had supported his rehabilitation efforts. He was going to apply the Probation Act for 18 months and was taking his “unusual step” in view of “the Trojan efforts” Mr Ó Riain had made.

The offences were three years old and there had been no difficulties since, Judge O’Donnell also said.