Convicted sex offender 'roaming around West Cork' without informing gardaí of whereabouts

Accused had been living in a tent in Bantry and was arrested for his own safety when found intoxicated and lying on the ground, court told

Court was told defendant had two previous convictions, including one for a sexual assault from 2022 for which he received a 22-month suspended sentence. Picture: Dan Linehan

A convicted sex offender who was obliged to inform gardaí of his whereabouts and sign on at a Garda station every three days had been living in a tent in Bantry for six weeks without informing the authorities, a recent sitting of Bantry District Court was told.

The court heard Darren Hyland, aged 29, of no fixed abode, and formerly of Nenagh, Co Tipperary, and Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, was pleading guilty to a single charge of public intoxication in relation to an incident on May 20, 2026. 

A Garda patrol was called to Chapel Street in Bantry where an intoxicated male identified as Hyland was found lying on the ground. Hyland was unable to stand unaided and was arrested for his own safety.

When he appeared at Bantry District Court to plead guilty to the charge, the court was told Hyland had two previous convictions, including one for a sexual assault from 2022 for which he received a 22-month suspended sentence.

Flor Murphy, defending, said Hyland was “new to Bantry” and had been living in a tent on some rough ground outside town. The court was told Hyland intended to enrol in an agricultural course at the National Learning Network in Bantry but needed to get a GP’s letter of approval to register and was having difficulty in doing so. 

Mr Murphy said if he was able to enrol in the the course, further supports such as sheltered housing would be available to him.

The court was told Hyland had been the victim of an attack by a group of teenagers and was vulnerable sleeping rough in a tent. Hyland told the court he was informed by gardaí in Nenagh where he was previously living that he would be on the sex offenders register for another two weeks.

Judge Joanne Carroll said it was incumbent on Hyland to inform the authorities if he was moving address and he was also obliged to sign on at a Garda station every three days. 

It was confirmed to the court Hyland would remain on the sex offenders' register until the end of June. Judge Carroll said Hyland appeared to have been: “For six weeks, roaming around West Cork, sleeping in a tent, a convicted sex offender.” 

The judge said that was an offence in itself and she was “displeased in the extreme” to discover Hyland was not meeting his obligations. 

The judge said it was Hyland’s responsibility to know how long he would be on the sex offenders' register. She said she was “absolutely satisfied” Hyland knew the position and asked for an urgent probation report to be prepared.

Hyland was remanded on bail to appear again on July 9 on condition he signs on at Bantry Garda Station every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme