Judge Orders Man to Delete Facebook Account After Breaching Domestic Violence Safety Order

 A man in his early sixties has been ordered by an Irish judge to delete his Facebook account after he breached a domestic violence Safety Order by commenting on a post shared by his ex-wife.

The incident, which took place on social media, involved a seemingly innocuous message — “Well done Louis” — posted beneath a photograph congratulating newly elected Sinn Féin TD for East Galway, Louis O’Hara. However, the comment appeared on the Facebook page of the man’s former spouse, with whom he is barred from making contact under a court-issued Safety Order.

The case was heard at Gort District Court, where Sergeant Claire Henaghan told the court that the comment caused the woman “great distress.” She also confirmed that it was the third time the man had breached the same order, having previously been convicted of two similar offences.

The Safety Order, in effect since September 2022, prohibits any form of communication or contact between the man and his ex-wife. By posting a comment on her social media profile, he was found to have violated that directive.

During proceedings, the defendant entered a guilty plea to the offence, which occurred on December 2.

In response, Judge Alec Gabbett advised the man to sever ties with the platform entirely. “Come off Facebook. Delete it. Do you need to be on Facebook? Is it adding to your life? I doubt it very much,” the judge remarked.

While acknowledging the breach as “very technical,” Judge Gabbett stated, “This was the man waving a flag and coming a little bit close to his ex-partner for my liking.” He further expressed concern over the repeated violations. “There is an underlying current here which I don’t like. This must stop today.”

“The lady needs to be left alone,” he said. “She has a five-year order in place, and judges don’t hand out five-year orders like confetti. I rarely make such long-term orders.”

From the courtroom, the defendant claimed the comment was “a genuine mistake,” asserting that he had voted for the TD in question during the general election. However, the judge remained firm, stating, “You just have to keep your nose clean and stay out of this lady’s life completely.”

The man’s solicitor, Colman Sherry, noted his client’s cooperation and early guilty plea. “He now understands that he can’t do anything like this again in the future,” Mr. Sherry said, while adding that he had been surprised the matter escalated to court.

Judge Gabbett chose to adjourn the case for one year to monitor the defendant’s behavior, warning him that further breaches could lead to imprisonment. “You are at risk of going to prison after three breaches,” he concluded.