Kerry election candidate Michelle Keane's contempt jailing overturned by High Court
Independent election candidate Michelle Keane was jailed for contempt of court on 10 December 2024 in Listowel Circuit Court after allegedly refusing to give an undertaking to remove a social media post about a garda, in defamation proceedings brought by Melanie Walsh. Keane, a mother of two who received 1,530 first preference votes in the 2024 general election, spent three days in Limerick Prison before purging her contempt. The High Court, with Judge Brian Cregan, overturned the finding on 23 July 2026, describing the original hearing as manifestly unfair and noting Keane had never been served with papers warning she could be imprisoned. Keane is to seek an award of damages over her jailing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court23 Jul
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Michelle Keane was jailed for contempt of court after allegedly refusing to give an undertaking to remove a social media post about a garda.
- Where
- The contempt hearing took place in Listowel Circuit Court, Kerry.
- When
- The contempt finding was made on 10 December 2024.
- Cause
- Melanie Walsh issued defamation proceedings and sought an injunction to have the material removed.
- Investigation
- Keane was never served with papers warning she could be imprisoned and first learned of the proceedings from a local newspaper.
- In court
- Judge Brian Cregan in the High Court overturned the contempt finding on 23 July 2026, describing the original hearing as manifestly unfair.
- Other details
- Keane spent three days in Limerick Prison before purging her contempt.
- Keane had already removed posts and indicated she would remove the remaining post if directed.
- The complaints to gardaí were about allegedly homophobic and racist posts.
- Keane is to seek an award of damages over her jailing.
- Keane received 1,530 first preference votes in the 2024 general election.
- Judge O'Donohoe listened to Keane for just one minute in a 10-minute hearing.
10 statements extracted from the articles
- otherKeane was jailed after allegedly refusing to give an undertaking to remove a social media post (irishtimes.com)
- otherKeane received 1,530 first preference votes in the 2024 general election (irishtimes.com)
- otherWalsh issued defamation proceedings and sought an injunction to have the material removed (irishtimes.com)
- otherKeane was never served with papers saying she could be imprisoned (irishtimes.com)
- otherJudge O'Donohoe listened to Keane for just one minute in a 10-minute hearing (irishtimes.com)
- otherKeane is to seek an award of damages over her jailing (irishtimes.com)
- otherKeane had already removed posts and indicated she would remove the remaining post if directed (irishtimes.com)
- otherKeane was a mother of two young children (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe complaints to gardaí were about allegedly homophobic and racist posts (irishtimes.com)
- otherKeane first learned of the Circuit Court proceedings from a local newspaper (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Jul2026Kerry election candidate jailed for contempt after ‘manifestly unfair’ hearing, High Court rules
High Court ruling overturning the contempt finding; Keane to seek damages over her jailing
accused, Michelle Keane, female, named, irish (judged from name)Michelle Keanevictim, Melanie Walsh, female, irish (judged from name)Melanie Walsh