Wednesday 28 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. 3008Coercive control, harassment · Co. Kildare

Former Garda Paul Moody sentenced to six years for coercive control and harassment

Paul Moody, a 46-year-old former Garda from Celbridge, Co Kildare, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the final 15 months suspended at Dublin Circuit Court for harassment and coercive control of his then-partner between March 2016 and November 2017. The article also notes he is now working as a cleaner and prison barber at Midlands Prison, Co Laois, where he has been cutting hair for inmates including Josef Puska.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced24 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatPaul Moody is a 46-year-old former Garda from Celbridge, Co Kildare (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMoody threatened to send intimate images to his partner's employer (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMoody sent 2,261 violent, abusive and threatening messages over a six-day period in March 2016 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe harassment and coercive control occurred between March 2016 and November 2017 (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe woman went to GSOC in December 2017 and made a statement in March 2018 (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationMoody was invited to an interview in July 2019 but did not attend as he was on work-related stress leave (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationMoody was arrested in October 2023 and charged in July 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeMoody pleaded guilty to harassment and coercive control (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceMoody was sentenced to six years with the final 15 months suspended on strict conditions (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceMoody was previously jailed in 2022 for three years and three months for coercive control of Nicola Hanney (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMoody was remanded in custody following the end of his last sentence in December 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMoody works as a cleaner on the E2 landing of Midlands Prison, Co Laois (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 May2026
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Ex Garda now cutting killer Josef Puska's hair behind bars

    Reports on Moody's sentencing for coercive control and harassment, details of the offending including 2,261 messages sent over six days, and notes he is now a prison barber at Midlands Prison cutting hair for inmates including Josef Puska.

    convicted, Paul Moody, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Moodyvictim, female