*Páidí Fitzpatrick in action for Sixmilebridge. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
A 39-year old Dublin man is to plead guilty to the harassment of an ex-Clare senior inter-county hurler, Páidí Fitzpatrick.
In the case, Damien Lee of Locklane, Clonburris, Dublin 22 is charged with the harassment of Padraig Fitzpatrick on dates between September 17th 2020 and June 24th 2021 at various locations within the State.
At Ennis Circuit Court on Tuesday, counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL told the court that “this is a case where certain offers have been made and accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) so we anticipate that the case will be dealt with by way of a plea”.
The charge against Mr Lee is contrary to Section 10(1) and (6) of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997 as amended by Section 10 of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020.
The ending of the period of the alleged harassment to June 24th 2021 came just three days before Páidí Fitzpatrick made his Munster senior hurling championship debut for Clare at Semple Stadium against Waterford at the age of 30.
Mr Lee was in court and his arraignment could not proceed as he was not legally represented due to ongoing dispute between solicitors and the Department of Justice over the new flat fee rate for solicitors in the District Court.
Ms Comerford (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) told the court that “what I don’t want to happen is that there would be any prejudice caused to Mr Lee”.
This was the second time in court that Mr Lee was unable to enter his plea due to the solicitors’ dispute with the Department of Justice over fees.
Ms Comerford that it had been agreed before June 22nd that Mr Lee would be arraigned on June 22nd at Ennis Circuit Court but that couldn’t proceed over the solicitors’ withdrawal of service.
Ms Comerford said that Mr Lee “is not seeking a trial date and has not been for some time”.
Judge Francis Comerford further remanded Mr Lee on bail to appear before Ennis Circuit Court for arraignment on July 31st.
Sixmilebridge club man, Páidí Fitzpatrick made his Clare senior hurling debut against Dublin in March 2020 and he has five senior Clare hurling club titles with Sixmilebridge and continued to represent his club at senior level.
Those convicted of harassment under Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act face prison terms up to 10 years.
