Friday 30 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 15227Harassment · Co. Offaly

Birr woman faces jail if she breaches five-year order in harassment case

Emma Sherwood (39) of McGregol Park, Birr, Co Offaly, was charged with harassing a man on dates in December 2022. She first appeared in the district court in February 2024, when the judge said the case would be struck out if there were no more incidents. At a December 2024 hearing, evidence of three alleged later incidents, including CCTV footage, was presented, and the judge made a five-year order under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. A breach of the order could bring a fine of €5,000, 10 years in prison, or both, and the latest reported development is that order, reported on 10 and 12 December 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court10 Dec
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
Where
Sherwood is of McGregol Park, Birr, County Offaly.
When
The alleged harassment of a man took place on dates in December 2022.
What happened
  • The injured party told the court Sherwood sat in her car in the driveway of his home, though the reports also describe it as the driveway of her own home.
  • On another date Sherwood stood behind the injured party in a bar while he played darts.
  • After he went inside, she stood staring at his house over the fence.
Charges
Emma Sherwood was charged with harassing a man on dates in December 2022.
Investigation
  • Sergeant Brendan Kearns told the court there had been three alleged incidents since the February appearance, and CCTV footage showed Sherwood standing behind the injured party watching darts.
  • Garda Stacey O'Brien served Sherwood with the court order.
In court
  • Sherwood first appeared in the district court in February 2024, when the judge said the case would be struck out if there were no more incidents of harassment.
  • The judge said he had given Sherwood an opportunity and made a five-year order under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
Sentence
  • The order prohibits Sherwood from certain conduct for five years, including being within 400 metres of the school the injured party's son attends during the day.
  • A breach of the order could bring a fine of €5,000, 10 years in prison, or both.
Other details
  • The judge described the behaviour as quite intimidating.
  • Sherwood's solicitor said she had complied with bail conditions not to contact the injured party or engage with him on social media, and had erected trellis on the wall between the two houses.
26 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe injured party told the court that Sherwood had been sitting in her car in the driveway of his home. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatOn another date Sherwood stood behind the injured party in a bar while he was playing darts. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatCCTV footage shown to the court showed Sherwood standing watching the darts behind the injured party. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe injured party said she had been sitting in her car in the driveway of her home. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatAfter he went inside, she stood staring at his house over the fence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatOn another date she stood behind him in a bar while he played darts. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereEmma Sherwood is from McGregol Park, Birr. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationSergeant Brendan Kearns told the court there had been three alleged incidents since the February appearance. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGarda Stacey O'Brien served Sherwood with the court order. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationA sergeant said there had been three alleged incidents since then. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe court was shown CCTV footage of her standing behind the injured party watching darts. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeEmma Sherwood was charged with harassing a man on dates in December 2022. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtSherwood first appeared in the district court the previous February, when the judge said the case would be struck out if there were no more incidents of harassment. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said he had given Sherwood an opportunity and made a five-year order under section 10-4 of the non fatal offences act. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtEmma Sherwood first appeared on the charges in the district court in February. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtShe had been told the case would be struck out if there were no more incidents of harassment. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe judge said he had given her an opportunity. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe court made an order prohibiting her from doing certain things for five years. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceA breach of the order could bring a fine of €5,000, 10 years in prison, or both. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge described the behaviour as quite intimidating. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherSherwood's solicitor said she had complied with bail conditions not to contact the injured party or engage with him on social media. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherSherwood's solicitor said she had erected trellis on the wall between the two houses to create a boundary. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe order bars Sherwood from being within 400 metres of the school the injured party's son attends during the day. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherIf Sherwood breaches the order she is liable to a fine of €5,000 or 10 years in prison, or both. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherHer solicitor said she had complied with the bail conditions on social media. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherA garda served Emma Sherwood with the court order. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 Dec2024
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Offaly woman faces lengthy jail sentence if she fails to comply with court order

    Adds the court hearing details: the three alleged incidents presented in evidence, the CCTV footage, the defence account, and the five-year section 10 order with its breach penalties.

    accused, Emma Sherwood, 39, female, named, irish (judged from name)Emma Sherwoodvictim, male
  2. 10 Dec2024
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Woman faces lengthy jail sentence if she fails to comply with court order

    Reports a December 2024 hearing in which the judge made a five-year order against Emma Sherwood, with the terms of the order, the penalties for breach, and evidence from the injured party and defence.

    victim, maleaccused, Emma Sherwood, 39, female, named, irish (judged from name)Emma Sherwood