Ireland Case No. 5724Stalking
Man arrested over alleged stalking of female public representative
Taimoor Abid, a 22-year-old Irish citizen and University of Galway student, was arrested by gardaí in the North Western Region on Thursday 6 June 2024 over an alleged stalking of a female public representative in the west of Ireland. The alleged offences took place between 6 and 7 April 2024, following a complaint from the politician, who has not been named. He was charged that evening under Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, as amended, and on Friday 7 June he appeared before a special sitting of Galway District Court, where he made no reply to the charge. Judge Gerard Furlong remanded him on bail, with conditions including no contact with the alleged victim, a curfew and surrender of his passport, to appear again on 22 July 2024.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested6 Jun
3 reports - Charged6 Jun
3 reports - In court7 Jun
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of stalking a female public representative in the west of Ireland.
- Cause
- The arrest followed a complaint from the female politician, who is serving in Government and has not been named.
- Where
- Gardaí from the North Western Region arrested him, and he was detained at a Garda station in the north west.
- One report says the alleged offences took place at a hotel in the west of Ireland, while another gives only a location in the west.
- When
- He was arrested at 6.38pm on Thursday 6 June 2024 and charged that evening.
- The alleged offences occurred between 6 and 7 April 2024.
- Investigation
- He was arrested last month over an alleged stalking of another female politician and released without charge pending further investigation.
- He was questioned under stalking legislation introduced in 2023 that created a standalone offence, and a possible sexual dimension was examined with nothing proven.
- Charges
- He was charged with stalking under Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, as amended, though the Garda statement cites Section 10(1) and court reports cite Section 10(2).
- The charge alleges he intentionally or recklessly caused serious harm or distress with a substantial adverse impact on her day-to-day activities, and that she would fear violence against her or someone connected to her.
- In court
- He appeared before a special sitting of Galway District Court on Friday 7 June 2024 and made no reply to the charge.
- Judge Gerard Furlong remanded him on bail to appear again on 22 July 2024, and legal aid was granted.
- Bail conditions include no contact with the alleged victim, including on social media, a curfew from 10pm to 7am, signing on at Salthill Garda Station three times a week, and surrender of his passport.
- The judge refused to temporarily return his passport for a pre-booked holiday to Kuwait, as gardaí objected that he was a flight risk.
- Sentence
- The offence carries a maximum sentence of up to ten years in prison on conviction.
67 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe complaint was made by a female public representative in the West of the country (garda.ie)
- whatA man was arrested on suspicion of stalking a female politician in Government. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man was also arrested last month on suspicion of stalking another female politician. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man in his 20s was charged over a Garda investigation into allegations he stalked a female politician. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAbid is charged under Section 10(2) of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 as amended by Section 23 of the Criminal Justice Act 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe allegedly intentionally or recklessly caused the person serious harm or distress that had a substantial adverse impact on her usual day-to-day activities. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe person would fear that violence would be used against her or another person connected to her. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA 22-year-old student has been charged with causing serious alarm or distress to a female public representative. (irishtimes.com)
- whereHe is detained at a Garda station in the North Western Region (garda.ie)
- whereThe arrest was made by gardaí based in the North West. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe man was allegedly seen outside the home of a relative while the politician was visiting. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe alleged stalking took place in the west of Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe stalking is suspected to have taken place in the west of Ireland in recent weeks. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe alleged offences took place at a location in the west of Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe arrest took place in the northwest of the country. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe man was arrested on Thursday 6 June 2024 (garda.ie)
- whenThe arrest took place on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe man was arrested on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe man was arrested in the north west of the country on Thursday 6 June 2024 and charged that evening. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe alleged incident occurred between 6 and 7 April 2024 at a hotel in the west of the country. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe alleged offences occurred on dates between April 6th and April 7th. (irishtimes.com)
- whenGardaí arrested the accused at 6.38pm on June 6th. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe complaint was made on Thursday, 6 June 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe arrest followed a complaint from the female politician currently serving in Government. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe man is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 (garda.ie)
- investigationThe criminal investigation is ongoing (garda.ie)
- investigationThe man was released without charge last month pending further investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA possible sexual dimension to the alleged actions was examined, but nothing has been proven. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe man is detained at a Garda station in the north western region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí will make no further statement while the criminal investigation is ongoing. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí were investigating a complaint made by the politician. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe man was questioned under stalking legislation brought in last year. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDetective Garda Mark Kelly gave evidence of arresting Abid on Thursday evening. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe accused made no reply to the charge after caution. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe man is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in the north western region. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeGardaí have charged a man in his 20s over a complaint made by a female public representative. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe man was arrested for an alleged stalking offence under Section 10(1) of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 as amended (garda.ie)
- chargeThe alleged offence is contrary to Section 10(1) of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 as amended, stalking. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA man in his 20s has been charged in connection with the alleged stalking. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe arrest was in connection with an alleged offence of stalking under Section 10(1) of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, as amended. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGardaí confirmed the man was charged in connection with a complaint made by a female public representative in the west of the country. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe is being questioned for an alleged offence contrary to Section 10(1) of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 as amended by Section 23 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023, Stalking. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe man remains in custody and is due before Galway District Court on Friday 7 June 2024. (garda.ie)
- courtThe man is due to appear before Galway District Court on Friday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe is due to appear at Galway District Court on Friday 7 June 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe defendant made no response to the charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Gerard Furlong remanded Abid on bail to appear before Galway District Court on July 22. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBail conditions include no contact with the alleged victim, including on social media. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA curfew requires the defendant to reside at home between 10pm and 7am each day. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe defendant must sign on at Salthill Garda Station three times a week. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge ordered Abid to surrender his passport. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe accused appeared before a special sitting of Galway District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge refused to vary bail conditions, so the accused must surrender his passport. (irishtimes.com)
- courtLegal aid was granted to the accused. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe accused was remanded on bail to appear again in court on July 22nd. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe charge carries a sentence of up to ten years in jail on conviction. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe investigation concerns offences under new legislation that created a stand-alone offence of stalking. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe suspect was also questioned about harassing another female politician in recent months. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man remains in custody. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDefence solicitor Ms Cathy McDarby applied for the passport to be temporarily returned so Abid could go on a pre-booked holiday with his mother to Kuwait. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDetective Garda Kelly objected to the passport application due to the seriousness of the charge and said Abid posed a flight risk. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAbid is a third-year student at University of Galway. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe court sitting lasted 15 minutes. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe accused is an Irish citizen and a third-year university student. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBail conditions include residing at his address, observing a curfew, having no contact with the alleged injured party, and signing on three times a week. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA new standalone offence of stalking with a maximum sentence of up to 10 years was created in November 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe female public representative has not been named. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 8 Jun2024Man arrested after stalking complaint made by female public representative
Initial report of the arrest. The article also provides background on the new standalone stalking offence created in November 2023 under the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023, with a maximum sentence of up to 10 years.
suspect, 20s, malevictim, female - 7 Jun2024Student (22) charged with causing distress to female politician
First report of the charge against Taimoor Abid, including the bail hearing, bail conditions and the arrest on 6 June.
accused, Taimoor Abid, 22, male, Irish, named, irishTaimoor Abidvictim, female - 7 Jun2024Student in court charged with stalking and harassing female politician
First court appearance; remanded on bail with conditions including no contact, curfew, sign-on at Salthill Garda Station, and passport surrender; next appearance 22 July 2024.
suspect, Taimoor Abid, 22, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Taimoor Abidvictim, female - 6 Jun2024Man charged by gardai investigating allegations he stalked female politician
Initial report of the charge; the man was also quizzed about harassing another female politician in recent months and was questioned under stalking legislation brought in last year.
suspect, 20s, malevictim, female - 6 Jun2024Man (20s) charged in connection with alleged stalking of female politician in west of Ireland
First report of the case. The man was arrested on Thursday and is due before Galway District Court on Friday morning. The article does not give the exact location of the alleged offence.
victim, femaleaccused, 20s, male - 6 Jun2024Man arrested for allegedly stalking high-profile female politician was previously questioned over separate incident
Reports that the man was arrested last month over alleged stalking of another female politician and released pending further investigation. The current arrest followed a complaint from a female politician in Government. He is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, and gardaí say the offence is contrary to Section 10(1) of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 as amended.
victim, femalesuspect, 20s, male - 6 Jun2024Arrest of a Man in the North Western Region, 6th June 2024
Garda press release announcing the arrest; no further details given as the investigation is ongoing.
victim, femalesuspect, 20s, male - 6 Jun2024Update: Arrest of a Man in the North Western Region, 6th June 2024
Garda update confirming the charge and court date. The offence and the location of the incident are not stated.
accused, 20s, male