*A date for sentencing is to be fixed on Friday.
A 39-year old teacher with a Dublin address, has pleaded guilty to the harassment of an ex-Clare senior inter-county hurler, Páidí Fitzpatrick five years ago.
At Ennis Circuit Court on Tuesday, Damien Lee of Locklane, Clonburris, Dublin 22 pleaded guilty to harassing Pádraig Fitzpatrick on dates between February 10th 2021 and June 24th 2021 at various locations within the State.
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.
Counsel for Mr Lee, Liam Carroll BL asked Judge Francis Comerford that a Probation Report be carried out on his client by the Probation Service for the sentencing hearing, stating that his client is a teacher and has no previous convictions.
Mr Carroll also asked that Judge Comerford extend the legal aid certificate for a GP’s report on his client. He said, “There is a psychiatric issue”.
Mr Lee had earlier in court on Tuesday entered a guilty plea to harassment of Mr Fitzpatrick for an earlier period on dates between Sept 17th 2020 and February 9th 2021.
However, Judge Comerford said that the guilty plea for the earlier date period be vacated after brief legal discussion and counsel for the State, Miranda Egan-Langley BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) said that Mr Lee can be sentenced on the single count on a full facts basis.
Judge Comerford said Mr Lee cannot be sentenced concerning the harassment charge dating from September 2020 to February 2021 but it can be taken into account when sentencing.
It was Mr Lee’s fourth time to appear in court since June to enter a guilty plea but on the three previous occasions he was unable to do so due to the ongoing dispute between lawyers and the Department of Justice over the criminal legal aid flat fee payment.
The ending of the period of Mr Lee’s harassment to June 24th 2021 of Mr Fitzpatrick 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.
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.
Those convicted of harassment under Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act face prison terms up to 10 years.
Judge Comerford adjourned the case to this Friday to fix a date for sentence and remanded Mr Lee on continuing bail and excused his attendance in court on Friday.
