Ireland Case No. 2996Indecent exposure (exposing genitals intending to cause fear, distress or alarm) · Co. Galway · 15 Jun 2025
Ex-Garda jailed for indecent exposure in Gort
Francis Hannon, a man aged 69 of Poolboy Cottages, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, was fully naked and masturbating in his upstairs bedroom of accommodation for the homeless at a neighbouring property in Gort, south Galway, in clear view of three women on 15 June 2025. He pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals intending to cause fear, distress or alarm under Section 45(1) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017. At Gort District Court, Judge Adrian Harris jailed him for four months, noting his former Garda status as an aggravating factor and his 44 previous convictions. Hannon is currently in custody for the same offence and faces a similar case in another court in Galway.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced28 May
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Francis Hannon was fully naked and masturbating in his upstairs bedroom of accommodation for the homeless at a neighbouring property in Gort, in clear view of three women.
- Where
- The incident took place in Gort, south Galway.
- When
- The incident occurred at 2pm on 15 June 2025.
- Charges
- Hannon pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals intending to cause fear, distress or alarm to a woman under Section 45(1) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.
- In court
- The case was heard at Gort District Court before Judge Adrian Harris.
- Sentence
- Hannon was jailed for four months.
- Other details
- Judge Harris noted that Hannon's former Garda status was an aggravating factor.
- Hannon has 44 previous convictions, including one for sexual assault in 1997 and one for harassment.
- Hannon is currently in custody for the same offence and faces a similar case in another court in Galway.
- The defence said Hannon was depressed at the time following his divorce.
- The complainant said the exposure lasted 45 minutes and there was video evidence of the incident.
34 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man was observed fully naked in an upstairs bedroom of accommodation for the homeless at a neighbouring property. (rte.ie)
- whatFrancis Hannon was fully naked and masturbating in clear view of three women from an address in Gort. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man masturbated in clear view of three women in Gort. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe offence took place in Gort, south Galway. (rte.ie)
- whereHannon was in his upstairs bedroom of accommodation for the homeless at a neighbouring property in Gort. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident took place in the south Galway town of Gort. (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on 15 June 2025. (rte.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred at 2pm on 15 June 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on 15 June 2025 from an address in Gort. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationThe complainant said there was video evidence of the incident. (rte.ie, clareecho.ie)
- chargeHannon pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals intending to cause fear, distress or alarm to a woman. (rte.ie, clareecho.ie)
- chargeHannon pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals intending to cause fear, distress or alarm to a woman under Section 45(1) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe offence was contrary to Section 45(1) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe judge said that being a former Garda was an aggravating factor. (rte.ie)
- courtHannon has 44 previous convictions, including one for sexual assault in 1997 and one for harassment. (rte.ie)
- courtHannon is in custody for the same offence and faces a similar case in another court in Galway. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Gort District Court before Judge Adrian Harris. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Gort District Court. (clareecho.ie)
- sentenceHannon was jailed for four months. (rte.ie, irishmirror.ie, clareecho.ie)
- otherThe defence said Hannon was depressed at the time following his divorce. (rte.ie)
- otherThe defence said Hannon apologises to the injured party. (rte.ie)
- otherThe complainant said the exposure lasted 45 minutes. (rte.ie)
- otherThe complainant said she was sickened by the four-month sentence. (rte.ie)
- otherHannon has 44 previous convictions including one for sexual assault in 1997 and another for harassment. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHannon is currently in custody for the same offence in another court in Galway. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHannon's solicitor said he was depressed at the time following his divorce. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe complainant said the exposure lasted 45 minutes and the women had video evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe complainant said she felt extremely vulnerable and unsafe in her own home and community since the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe complainant was sickened by the four-month prison term and disappointed given Hannon's 44 previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe complainant did not know Hannon before the incident and only found out he was an ex-Garda a few days later. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherJudge Harris noted that Hannon being a former Garda was an aggravating factor. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe judge said Hannon's former Garda status was an aggravating factor. (clareecho.ie)
- otherHannon has 44 previous convictions. (clareecho.ie)
- otherHannon is currently in custody for the same offence. (clareecho.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 3 Jun2026Judge jails ex-Garda for four months for masturbating in front of three women in Gort - Clare Echo
Reports the guilty plea, the four-month prison sentence at Gort District Court on 3 June 2026, the judge's comments on Hannon's former Garda service, his 44 previous convictions, and that he was already in custody for the same offence.
convicted, Francis Hannon, 69, male, named, irish (judged from name)Francis Hannonvictim, female - 29 May2026Judge jails ex-Garda for four months for masturbating in front of three women
Sentencing report: Judge Adrian Harris imposed four months' imprisonment, noting Hannon's status as a former Garda as an aggravating factor. The complainant expressed disappointment at the sentence given his 44 previous convictions.
convicted, Francis Hannon, 69, male, named, irish (judged from name)Francis Hannonvictim, femalevictim, femalevictim, female - 28 May2026Ex-Garda jailed for four months over sex act incident
Reports the four-month sentence at Gort District Court for an incident on 15 June 2025, and details the victim impact statement and the defendant's previous convictions.
convicted, Francis Hannon, 69, male, named, irish (judged from name)Francis Hannonvictim, female