MAN FACES SHARON HARASS RAP
40yr-old on bail ahead of RTE newsreader trial
A MAN appeared in court yesterday accused of harassing RTE newsreader Sharon Ni Bheolain.
Conor O’hora, 40, faces trial on three offences including child pornography. He is charged with harassment of the Six One news co-anchor at various locations over a four-month period. The defendant was remanded on bail by the Dublin District Court judge and told to have no contact “directly or indirectly” with Sharon.
A MAN is to stand trial accused of harassing RTE newsreader Sharon Ni Bheolain and child porn offences.
It is alleged Conor O’hora, 40, targeted the Six One news co-anchor at various locations from October 20, 2013 until February 16 the following year. The defendant, from Heather Walk, Portmarnock, North Dublin, also faces two other charges for allegedly possessing child pornography in text communications and images over the same time period. On Friday afternoon, he appeared at Dublin District Court before Judge Michael Walsh who was told the accused was arrested and charged by gardai at Infirmary Road in the north of the city. He heard that “in reply to the charge after caution O’hora had nothing to say and was handed a copy of the three charges”. Judge Walsh was told the DPP has directed the defendant to face trial on indictment. This means a trial before a circuit court judge and jury. Prosecutors will also accept a “signed plea of guilty in the district court and be sent forward for sentence” if that arises. However, O’hora has not yet indicated how he will plead. There was no Garda objection to bail subject to him residing at his present address and having no contact with anyone involved in the investigation. Judge Walsh remanded him on bail in his own bond of €1,000 to appear on December 1. It is expected he will then be served with a book of evidence and returned for trial. The defendant, dressed in a grey jumper, black trousers, a pink shirt and black shoes, was told by the judge that he must commit no offence, be of good behaviour and reside at his address. O’hora was also warned gardai had to be notified of any change in his circumstances and was ordered to have no contact “directly or indirectly” with the injured party or others involved in the investigation. Judge Walsh asked the accused: “Are you going to give me an undertaking to do that?” O’hora replied: “Yes, your honour.” Legal aid was granted after defence solicitor Philip Hannon furnished the court with a statement of his client’s means. In relation to the charges involving children, the judge said there were the usual reporting restrictions otherwise the case would be treated like any other. The prosecution comes following an investigation by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.