Ireland Judge dismisses safety order breach case at Portlaoise District Court
A 49-year-old man with a Kildare address was accused of breaching a safety order relating to a woman, with the alleged breach occurring at Portlaoise District Court on 3 February 2026. The woman made the allegation at Portlaoise Garda Station, and CCTV footage from inside the courthouse was viewed. When charged and cautioned, the man said he was the victim of coercive control and stalking, and he was brought before Athlone District Court and released on bail. By 10 May 2026, Judge Andrew Cody had dismissed the case at Portlaoise District Court, calling the allegation a grotesque abuse of the court process, and a file was being prepared for the DPP.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A man aged 49 with a Kildare address was accused of breaching a safety order in relation to a woman.
- When
- The alleged breach took place on 3 February 2026.
- Where
- The alleged breach took place at Portlaoise District Court.
- Investigation
- The woman attended Portlaoise Garda Station and made the allegation at 4.50pm on the date in question.
- The incident was captured on CCTV inside the courthouse, and the judge viewed the footage.
- A file was being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
- Other details
- The woman told the court the man's presence put her in fear.
- The man cannot be named due to the nature of the proceedings.
- Charges
- When charged and cautioned, the man said he was the victim of coercive control and stalking.
- In court
- The man was brought before Athlone District Court and released on bail.
- Judge Andrew Cody described the allegation as utter rubbish and a grotesque abuse of the court process.
- Judge Cody said nothing good, bad or indifferent happened on the day and that the case was a complete waste of the court's time.
- Judge Cody said Gardaí and the courts were being used as an instrument of coercive control and dismissed the case.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man aged 49 with a Kildare address appeared before Portlaoise District Court accused of breaching a safety order in relation to a woman. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe alleged breach happened at Portlaoise District Court on 3 February 2026. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe woman made the allegation at Portlaoise Garda Station at 4.50pm on the date in question. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe incident was captured on CCTV inside the courthouse. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeWhen charged and cautioned, the accused said he was the victim of coercive control and stalking. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe accused was brought before Athlone District Court and released on bail. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtJudge Andrew Cody described the allegation as utter rubbish. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge said nothing good, bad or indifferent happened on the day and that the case was a complete waste of the court's time. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge said Gardaí and the courts were being used as an instrument of coercive control and dismissed the case. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe woman told the court the man's presence put her in fear. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe judge said the case was a grotesque abuse of the court process. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 8 May2026Judge blasts ‘grotesque abuse' of Laois court
The judge dismissed the case, calling the allegation a grotesque abuse of the court process. The accused said he was the victim of coercive control and stalking, and a file was being prepared for the DPP.
accused, 49, malevictim, female