Cork man pleads guilty just before start of trial to harassing his ex-partner and her parents

The man has been released on bail until sentencing

The case would have taken an estimated two weeks if it had gone to trial. File picture: Larry Cummins

A middle-aged man who denied on Tuesday the harassment of his ex-partner changed his plea to guilty on Wednesday as the trial by judge and jury was about to commence.

He was re-arraigned in front of Judge Helen Boyle and a jury of eight men and four women at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

He then pleaded guilty to harassment, contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, the particulars alleging that on various dates between May 26, 2018, and February 9, 2021, at various locations within the state he harassed his ex-partner.

He also pleaded guilty to another count of harassing her for a later period from February 9, 2021, until December 15, 2022.

The accused man then pleaded guilty to charges of harassing his ex-partner’s mother and father between February 10, 2021, and August 26, 2022.

While there were other related charges on the indictment against him, prosecution senior counsel Tom Creed said of the counts to which he pleaded guilty: “Those pleas are acceptable to the DPP. I am grateful to the jury for their forbearance.” 

Judge Helen Boyle thanked the jury and said that the administration of justice could not happen without people responding to their jury summonses and making themselves available for jury service.

Mr Creed asked for sentencing to be adjourned until May 1 and said that victim impact reports would be prepared.

Bail conditions require the accused, who was represented by Conor Devally senior counsel, to stay away from the injured parties and have no contact with them but the requirement for him to sign on twice a week was changed to once a week, with the consent of the State.

Judge Boyle said: “Nothing should be contained in newspaper reports that would identify the parties because of (the danger of) re-victimisation of the parties and the fact that there are children involved.” 

The case would have taken an estimated two weeks if it had gone to trial. Judge Boyle thanked the legal parties for the progress made in the case today.