Ex-garda jailed for four months over masturbating in clear view in Galway town
The woman said in her victim impact statement that 'since this incident, I have felt extremely vulnerable and unsafe in my own home and community'. Picture: iStock
A judge has jailed an ex-garda and sex offender for four months for masturbating in clear view of three women in the South Galway town of Gort last June.
At Gort District Court on Thursday, Judge Adrian Harris said that Francis Hannon, aged 69, of Poolboy Cottages, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, had engaged in “disgusting, deplorable, and awful behaviour” when fully naked and masturbating in clear view of the women on June 15, 2025.
Judge Harris said that “an aggravating factor here is that Mr Hannon is a former garda”.
He said that, having read the complainant’s victim impact statement, “I can see how upsetting it must have been and what an awful experience it was for her”.
Speaking outside the courthouse afterwards, the complainant said she was "sickened" by the four-month prison term imposed.
Hannon pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals intending to cause fear, distress, or alarm to a woman on June 15 at an address in Gort contrary to Section 45(1) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.
Sgt Claire Henaghan told the court that Hannon has 44 previous convictions, including one for sexual assault in the circuit court under Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act in 1997, and another prior conviction for harassment.
Sgt Henaghan said Hannon is currently in custody on a similar charge, and he is facing a separate case before another court in Galway.
Outlining the case, Sgt Henaghan said that at 2pm on June 15 last year, the injured party, at her home in Gort, saw a man naked in an upstairs bedroom of homeless accommodation at a neighbouring property, where he was masturbating and appeared aware he was being observed.
Ann Gillane, for Hannon, said he cannot explain his actions on the day.
Ms Gillane said Hannon was depressed at the time following his divorce, adding that he apologises to the injured party.
The woman said in her victim impact statement that “since this incident, I have felt extremely vulnerable and unsafe in my own home and community".
She said: “As a single woman living alone, I now experience anxiety even when looking out my window or going into my own garden. What should feel like a place of safety no longer does."
She said that, as a former garda, Hannon “fully understands the difference between right and wrong".
"He knew that exposing himself to three women was completely unacceptable and deeply distressing behaviour."
The woman said that “this incident has had a lasting emotional impact on me".
"It has affected how safe I feel in my daily life, in my home, and in my community," she added.
Outside the court, the complainant said she was “disappointed” with the sentence imposed considering Hannon’s 44 previous convictions.
Recalling the man’s indecent exposure, the woman said: “For 45 minutes, he was doing it. He knew that we were watching him, and he knew that we were filming him. We had video evidence. We were all traumatised by what we saw.”
The woman said she did not know or had not seen Hannon before the day in question. She said she only found out a few days after the incident that Hannon was previously a garda.
Another eyewitness to the alleged indecent exposure, a neighbour and friend of the complainant, said outside court: “The incident was horrific and prolonged and he knew that we were watching.”
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