Cork autism campaigner avoids jail for trespassing at property of Christian fundamentalist group

Accused, in the company of others, including some of her children, entered the property, told them she was from the 'Covid police', and began filming different areas of the property, court heard

Accused pleaded guilty at Bandon District Court
to trespassing at the property of a Christian group she believed to be 'a cult'. Picture: Denis Minihane

An autism campaigner has received a 60-day suspended jail sentence after she pleaded guilty to trespassing at the property of a Christian group she believed to be “a cult”, in what was described as “an endeavour borne out of misplaced public concern”.

Fiona O’Leary, 51, of Knockduff, Dunmanway, Co Cork, pleaded guilty at Bandon District Court to the charge of trespass at the property at Reenascreena, owned by the Society of Saint Pius X Resistance, or SSPX Resistance, on August 10, 2020.