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. 1290Harassment (harmful communication) · Co. Westmeath · 16 Mar 2023

Man pleads guilty to social media harassment of former AGSI chief in Westmeath

Andrew McGovern, 38, of Rathowen, Co Westmeath, pleaded guilty at Mullingar District Court to distributing or publishing a threatening or grossly offensive communication about former AGSI chief Antoinette Cunningham on Twitter/X between 16 and 30 March 2023. He was remanded on continuing bail pending sentencing on 4 September 2025.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted17 Jul
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe messages were posted on Twitter, now called X. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCunningham said her sense of personal wellbeing and peace of mind was fractured as a result. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCunningham said there was a personal vilification going on and she was powerless to do anything about it. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCunningham said the messages had a profoundly negative effect and were filled with hate, disinformation, offensive content, lies and basely offensive matters. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCunningham said she finds it deeply upsetting that a criminal offence is not accepted as a breach of social media rules. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe accused is from School Lane, Rathowen, Co Westmeath. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offence occurred in the Mullingar area from 16 March to 30 March 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDet Sgt Alan Farrelly of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation told the court about the messages. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe charge is under section 4 of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe was remanded on continuing bail pending sentencing by Judge Bernadette Owens at Mullingar District Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMcGovern will be sentenced on 4 September. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe offence carries a possible six-month sentence at District Court level. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCunningham, from Limerick, announced her retirement after 33 years with An Garda Síochána and the Agsi. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Jul2025
    Convictedirishtimes.com, first report
    Former AGSI chief ‘profoundly distressed’ by social media attacks, court hears

    Details of the Twitter/X posts, the victim impact statement from Antoinette Cunningham, and the sentencing date of 4 September 2025.

    victim, Antoinette Cunningham, female, irish (judged from name)Antoinette Cunninghamconvicted, Andrew McGovern, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Andrew McGovern