*The accused is on continuing bail.
AN ENNIS man who sent lewd images of himself to an addiction counsellor and exposed himself in public “has a has a very, very serious cocaine addiction which has led him to act out in the most unusual ways”, a court has heard.
At Ennis District Court, solicitor, Daragh Hassett also told Judge Adrian Harris that his client, Shane McCarthy’s cocaine intake resulted “in a complete disinhibition in how he behaved around certain individuals”.
In the case, Mr McCarthy (30) of Shanballa, Lahinch Road, Ennis, but currently living on bail in Galway, has pleaded guilty to sending four lewd images of himself to his then addiction counsellor on May 5th last year.
Mr McCarthy has also pleaded guilty to masturbating in a public place at Silvergrove, Ballybeg, Ennis on August 31st last year and the possession of cocaine on the same date at Ennis Garda Station.
Mr McCarthy is also before the court where he is charged with masturbating in a public place on December 18th last at Ballyalla Lake on the northern outskirts of Ennis.
Mr Hassett said that a psychologist’s report on Mr McCarthy is now complete and available to the court.
Mr Hassett said that Mr McCarthy is scheduled to enter a treatment centre on June 2nd.
Mr Hassett said that Mr McCarthy is now living in Galway as part of his bail conditions and hasn’t got in difficulty in the past six weeks following a complete sea change.
Mr Hassett said that he would be asking at the sentencing date that the final sentencing would be adjourned until after Mr McCarthy completes his treatment programme.
Mr Hassett said that it is agreed that it is not a good idea for Mr McCarthy to return to Ennis on a full-time basis but that Gardaí have agreed to a change in his bail conditions that he can return home on Saturdays to spend time with his children.
Sgt John Burke previously told the court that two of the grossly offensive communications to the addiction counsellor concerned one second videos of Mr McCarthy’s penis.
Sgt Burke said that four grossly offensive images consisted of two videos and two still images of Mr McCarthy’s penis.
Judge Adrian Harris remanded Mr McCarthy on continuing bail to re-appear before court on May 6th.
