Jail next time if man guilty of indecent exposure ‘sins again’

A COUNTY Limerick man, currently residing in the mid Kerry area, has admitted to exposing himself to a 42-year-old woman and a 56-year-old woman on separate occasions earlier this year.

Patrick Walsh, Moanree, Newcastle West, appeared at Cahersiveen District Court on Thursday charged with exposing his genitals, intending to cause fear, distress or alarm to another person at Ballycleave, Glenbeigh, on May 24 and Rossbeigh Beach on May 26.

Garda Brian McCarthy said that at 7.30pm on May 24 last, a 42-year-old local lady had been cycling on the Ring of Kerry road near Ballycleave, when a man jumped onto the middle of the road with his trousers down around his ankles.

“She felt threatened as she passed him and soon after a blue Passat overtook her,” the garda stated, adding that the woman then proceeded to cycle home in total fear.

Two days later on May 26 at approximately 1.30pm, the court heard that a 56-year-old woman walking on the back strand at Rossbeigh Beach noticed a male with his genitals exposed a few hundred metres away. “She walked past him and felt very intimidated,” the court heard.

Later in her walk the woman spotted two cars at the lifeguard’s hut and took photos of a male driver and of the registration of his vehicle.

On May 31, gardaí patrolling Rossbeigh Beach spotted Mr Walsh in the vehicle which was photographed by the woman in Rossbeigh and also described by the cyclist in Ballycleave.

The court heard that Mr Walsh was with his partner at the time and when questioned he put his hands up.

Solicitor Brendan Ahern said his client gave a voluntary admission and didn’t seek legal advice. “I’ve had numerous consultations and found it difficult to explain,” the solicitor added.

The court heard that Mr Walsh had recentl;y relocated to the mid Kerry area to be with his partner.

Referring to the fact that the incidents occurred in a public place and the defendant made no attempt to conceal his identity, Judge James O’Connor asked if psychological help was needed. Mr Ahern said his client was currently on a waiting list for counselling

He added that Mr Walsh had no intention to threaten the women, to which Judge O’Connor replied that the very act itself was a threat.

The defendant agreed to offer €4,000 – €2,000 to each woman – as compensation. He was remanded on continuing bail to appear again in Cahersiveen on May 10, 2018. “If he sins again it has to be a custodial sentence and it will be close to 12 months,” the judge warned.

One of the first such charges before the district court, the alleged offences are contrary to Section 45 of the Criminal Law (Sex Offences) Act.