Man jailed for using internet to contact estranged daughters

A Louth father who posted pictures and details of his estranged daughters on the internet has been jailed for two years by Judge Patrick McCarten who had barred him previously from contacting them.

Patrick Joseph Rogan (aged 38) of Maple Close, Dundalk posted the matter on the Bebo internet site on October 10 last and made contact with a friend of his daughters who found the matter "disturbing" and brought it to the attention of her mother and of Garda Robbie Peelo.

Judge McCarten noted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that on June 16, 2006 he had ordered Rogan to stop trying to make contact with his daughters and his former partner.

Rogan said in court that while he did not mean to breach the court order he saw the internet as a mechanism whereby he could keep in touch with his daughters.

"By using the internet I was trying to keep the channels of communication open between myself and my daughters," he said.

Judge McCarten said that while Rogan had not directly contacted his daughters he had breached the court order "another way" by using the internet in the manner he did.

Judge McCarten said the case had "a long history" and in his previous order he had given Rogan a chance.

"But in breaching that order you were testing the temper of this court," said Judge McCarten. "At least, you will know now what the law is. Your persistent interference will have to stop."