*Crowe Street, Gort
A 35 year old man has pleaded guilty to a ‘race-hate’ offence when repeatedly shouting at a woman in broad daylight in Gort last May.
At Gort District Court, Sgt Claire Heneghan said that Anthony Dunleavy of Crowe Street, Gort repeatedly shouted ‘black c**t’ at the woman on Crowe Street in Gort on May 2nd last.
Sgt Heneghan told the court that Mr Dunleavy “shouted it a number of times at the injured party so much so that he continued to do as she cycled away”.
Sgt Heneghan said that the female “was in complete shock. She didn’t know the defendant and had never met him before and she couldn’t understand how the incident could have happened on the street in the afternoon”.
In the case, Mr Dunleavy has pleaded guilty to an offence under ‘hate offence’ legislation introduced here in 2024, the Criminal (Hate Offences) Act 2024.
Mr Dunleavy has pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words with intent to provoke a breach of the peace and demonstrating at the time hatred towards the woman in question and that hatred being on account of her race.
Judge Adrian Harris said that Mr Dunleavey had engaged “in the most outrageous, appalling behaviour”.
Judge Harris said, “This is disgusting language and disgusting behaviour”.
Judge Harris said that “as new judge in town in Gort I will not under any circumstances tolerate racism of any kind”.
Gort has a large Brazilian population and Judge Harris said he has been coming to Gort for many years and said that the behaviour displayed by Mr Dunleavy “is not in any way characteristic of the town of Gort in any way whatsoever”.
Solicitor, Olivia Lynch for Mr Dunleavy said her client accepts entirely the facts as outlined by Sgt Heneghan “and he cannot excuse his behaviour”.
She said, “In the first instance he wants to apologise to the victim and he said that it won’t happen again”.
Ms Lynch said, “I have asked him to explain and all he said that he was having a very difficult time at the time”. Ms Lynch said that Mr Dunleavy was very anxious to deal with the matter.
She said that her client is unemployed and might be suitable for a Community Service Order.
Judge Harris said that he would adjourn the case to allow the injured party to provide a victim impact statement and adjourned the case to July
Judge Harris said that would also adjourn the matter for a Probation Report on Mr Dunleavy and the adjournment would allow Mr Dunleavey “reflect on his behaviour and the words used and the hurt caused”.
