Sunday 1 November 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. 1766Harassment (Section 4, Harassment and Harmful Communications Act 2020) · 1 Aug 2022

Harassment sentence increased on appeal in Kilkenny

Seán Tyrrell, 39, of Loughboy, Kilkenny, a former Sinn Féin councillor, was sentenced in April 2025 for harassing his ex-partner, Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion, after making false accusations of unfaithfulness, accessing her phone without consent, and threatening to expose allegations to journalists following their split in August 2022. Tyrrell pleaded guilty to offences on four dates under Section 4 of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, known as Coco's Law. Kilkenny District Court gave him four months in prison with a separate four-month term suspended for two years. On a severity-only appeal in February 2026, Kilkenny Circuit Court increased both sentences to five months, with the suspended term on a €100 personal bond.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced29 Apr
    4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
After splitting in August 2022, Tyrrell made false accusations that Funchion had been unfaithful, accessed her phone without consent, and threatened to expose embarrassing allegations to journalists and named parties if she did not meet his demands, including taking a lie detector test.
Where
Tyrrell is from Loughboy, Kilkenny.
When
The offences relate to August 2022, after the couple split; they had been in an on-and-off relationship since 2016.
Investigation
Funchion made a complaint to gardaí about email and text messages sent by the accused.
Charges
Tyrrell pleaded guilty to offences on four different dates under Section 4 of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, known as Coco's Law.
In court
  • Kilkenny District Court heard the relationship was dysfunctional and on and off for five or six years, and the judge found aggravating factors included premeditated actions intended to inflict harm.
  • Tyrrell took a severity-only appeal to Kilkenny Circuit Court.
Sentence
  • In April 2025, Kilkenny District Court sentenced Tyrrell to four months in prison with a separate four-month term suspended for two years.
  • In February 2026, Kilkenny Circuit Court increased the custodial sentence to five months and the suspended sentence to five months, suspended for two years on a €100 personal bond.
Other details
  • The probation report noted concerns about the likelihood of re-offending, and the judge treated Tyrrell as having no previous convictions.
  • Tyrrell was working as a block-layer in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, and residing with his employer.
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatFunchion said Tyrrell persisted in making false allegations of unfaithfulness. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatFunchion said Tyrrell accessed her phone without her consent or knowledge. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatFunchion said Tyrrell tried to force her to take a lie detector test. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whatTyrell made false accusations about Ms Funchion, saying she had been unfaithful (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAfter the split, Tyrell contacted a journalist at a national newspaper claiming a Sinn Féin politician was making false claims about domestic violence and financial abuse (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatOne of his demands was that she take a lie detector test (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatTyrrell threatened to expose embarrassing allegations about Ms Funchion to journalists and other named parties if she did not meet his demands. (rte.ie)
  • whereTyrrell is from Loughboy. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenFunchion said in August 2022 she finally accepted things were not right. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • whenThey began a relationship in 2016 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThey split in August 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe offences relate to August 2022. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
  • investigationMs Funchion made a complaint to gardaí about email and text messages sent by the accused. (rte.ie)
  • chargeTyrrell was sentenced for offences under Section 4 of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, known as Coco’s Law. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • chargeTyrell was given a four-month jail term and a separate four-month suspended sentence under Section 4 of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtKilkenny Court heard the relationship was dysfunctional and on and off for five or six years. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • courtTyrell took a severity-only appeal to Kilkenny Circuit Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe District Court guilty pleas related to offences on four different dates. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the conduct caused huge concern to Funchion's professional and personal life. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtTyrrell took a severity-only appeal to Kilkenny Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceTyrrell was given a four-month prison sentence, with a separate four-month jail term suspended for two years. (kilkennypeople.ie)
  • sentenceSean Tyrell was jailed for four months under Section 4 of the Harassment and Harmful Communications Act (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceA separate four-month jail term was suspended for two years (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said a custodial sentence was warranted and inevitable. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe custodial sentence was increased from four months to five months. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe suspended sentence was increased from four months to five months, suspended for two years in a personal bond of €100. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceTyrrell was previously given a four-month custodial sentence, with a separate four-month term suspended for two years. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge increased the custodial sentence to five months. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge increased the suspended sentence from four months to five months. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe suspended sentence is suspended in full for two years on condition of good behaviour and no contact with or about Ms Funchion. (rte.ie)
  • otherTyrell pleaded guilty to the offences. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe probation report was not positive and noted concerns about the likelihood of re-offending. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherTyrell was working as a block-layer in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, and was residing with his employer. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge found the aggravating factors included premeditated actions intended to inflict harm. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe judge treated Tyrrell as having no previous convictions. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Feb2026
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    MEP's ex-partner has jail sentence increased on appeal

    Sentence increased on appeal at Kilkenny Circuit Court. Original sentence was imposed by Kilkenny District Court the previous April. The offences relate to August 2022.

    convicted, Seán Tyrrell, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seán Tyrrellvictim, Kathleen Funchion, irish (judged from name)Kathleen Funchion
  2. 1 Feb2026
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    MEP Kathleen Funchion's ex-partner has prison sentence increased for offences under Coco’s Law

    Reports the outcome of a severity-only appeal: the custodial sentence and the suspended sentence were each increased from four to five months, with the suspended sentence suspended for two years on a €100 personal bond. Also includes the victim's and the probation report's context.

    convicted, Sean Tyrell, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Tyrell
  3. 30 Apr2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Sinn Fein MEP admits to 'serious' trust issues after ex jailed under Coco's Law

    Article reports the sentencing and includes Ms Funchion's personal account of the coercive control, her decision to go to the Gardaí, and her comments on the lasting impact on her trust.

    victim, Kathleen Funchion, female, irish (judged from name)Kathleen Funchionconvicted, Sean Tyrell, male, namedSean Tyrell
  4. 29 Apr2025
    Sentencedkilkennypeople.ie, follow-up
    Kilkenny politician speaks out as ex-partner, former local councillor, is jailed

    Reports the sentence handed down on Monday (four months in prison, four months suspended for two years) and Funchion's victim impact statement and reaction.

    convicted, Sean Tyrrell, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Tyrrellvictim, Kathleen Funchion, female, irish (judged from name)Kathleen Funchion