Ireland Man sent for trial on stalking charge in Laois
A woman was jogging on a rural road at Eyne, Mountmellick, Co. Laois on 26 April 2024 when a car pulled in ahead of her and a man crossed the road to approach her with his arms outstretched. Patrick Horan, a man in his 40s from Graigue, Mountmellick, was charged and arrested on 11 May 2024 with one count of stalking under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. He appeared at Portlaoise District Court on 13 May, where bail was refused and he was remanded in custody. In September 2024 a book of evidence was served, the DPP directed the case be sent forward, and he was remanded on bail with legal aid for two counsel granted. His trial is listed at Portlaoise Circuit Court on 29 October 2024.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court13 May
6 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A man is accused of stalking a woman who was jogging on a rural road, approaching her with his arms outstretched after a car pulled in ahead of her.
- Where
- The alleged incident took place at Eyne, Mountmellick, Co. Laois, though a Garda statement described the location as Mountmellick, Co. Laois.
- When
- The incident is dated Friday 26 April 2024.
- Investigation
- Laois Gardaí carried out door-to-door enquiries and the man was identified from a description of him and his car.
- The man was arrested on 11 May 2024 and his car and exhibits were seized on 12 May 2024.
- Charges
- Patrick Horan, a man aged 40 or 41, was charged with one count of stalking under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.
- In court
- He appeared at Portlaoise District Court on 13 May 2024, where bail was refused and he was remanded in custody to reappear by video link on 20 May.
- In September 2024 a book of evidence was served, the DPP directed the case be sent forward, and he was remanded on bail.
- His trial is listed at Portlaoise Circuit Court on 29 October 2024.
- Other details
- His solicitor said his client does not know the jogger, and a psychiatric evaluation was directed for the accused.
56 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man is appearing before Portlaoise District Court in connection with an alleged attempted abduction of a woman. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatA man is charged over an alleged attempted abduction of a woman. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatPatrick Horan appeared in court accused of causing serious alarm or distress to a female jogger. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe jogger told the court she was terrified when approached by a man. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatPatrick Horan is accused of causing serious alarm or distress to a female jogger and putting her in fear. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe woman was jogging when a car passed and later pulled in on the road ahead. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe man crossed the road and approached the woman with his arms outstretched. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe accused is charged with stalking a woman in Laois. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe incident involved a woman exercising on a rural road in Eyne, Portlaoise. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe woman was out exercising on a rural road in Eyne, Portlaoise. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereGardaí said the reported incident occurred in Mountmellick, Co. Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe alleged incident took place at Eyne, Mountmellick. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at Eyne, Mountmellick. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe alleged stalking took place at Eyne, Mountmellick. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe alleged offence took place at Eyne, Mountmellick. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on Friday 26 April. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe reported incident occurred on Friday evening, 26 April 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe alleged incident took place on 26 April 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on 26 April 2024. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe alleged offence took place on 26 April 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe alleged offence is dated 26 April 2024. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationLaois Gardaí carried out door to door enquiries after the report. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí in Laois carried out door-to-door enquiries after the report. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested a man in his 40s in relation to the incident. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe man was arrested and his car and exhibits were seized by gardaí on Sunday, 12 May. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationIn interview the man placed himself at the scene, but his account differed from the injured party's. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe defendant was later identified from a description of him and his car. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationThe man was arrested and his car and exhibits were seized by gardaí on Sunday, May 12. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGarda Lisa Murray served a book of evidence on the accused in court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationA garda served a book of evidence on the accused in court. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeGardaí charged and arrested a man on Saturday 11 May. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeGardaí charged and arrested a man on the evening of 11 May. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeThe man was charged under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeThe accused faces one count of stalking. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeThe accused faces one count of stalking in the book of evidence. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe case is due to be heard in court on Monday 13 May. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe man appeared before Portlaoise District Court on 13 May 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe case was listed to be heard in court on Monday, 13 May. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtGarda Trevor Darcy objected to bail at Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge refused bail due to the seriousness of the offence. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe accused was remanded in custody to reappear by video link on Monday, 20 May. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtLegal aid was granted and a psychiatric evaluation was directed for the accused in custody. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Portlaoise District Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtGarda Trevor Darcy objected to bail due to the serious nature of the charge. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe defence said the accused was entitled to bail and the presumption of innocence. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtJudge Nicola Andrews refused bail due to the seriousness of the offence. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe accused was sent forward for trial to Portlaoise Circuit Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe DPP directed that the case be sent forward to the next sittings of Portlaoise Circuit Court in October. (leinsterexpress.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe accused was remanded on bail. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtLegal aid for two counsel was granted. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe case was sent forward for trial to Portlaoise Circuit Court sitting on 29 October. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge remanded the accused on bail. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge granted legal aid for two counsel in the case. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe accused was remanded in custody to reappear by video link on Monday, May 20. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe accused's solicitor said his client does not know the jogger. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe accused was on High Court bail subject to conditions in relation to the charge. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Sep2024Man in the Midlands to go on trial for 'stalking'
Reports that a book of evidence was served on the accused at Portlaoise District Court, that the DPP directed the case be sent forward, that he was remanded on bail, and that legal aid for two counsel was granted.
accused, Patrick Horan, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Horanvictim, female - 3 Sep2024Laois man to go on trial for 'stalking'
Adds that the DPP directed the case be sent forward, that the accused was on High Court bail, that legal aid for two counsel was granted, and that the trial is listed for Portlaoise Circuit Court on 29 October.
accused, Patrick Horan, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Horanvictim, female - 14 May2024Man remanded in custody accused of causing fear to 'terrified' female jogger in the Midlands
Adds that bail was refused and the accused was remanded in custody to reappear by video link on 20 May. It also gives the jogger's account, the arrest and car seizure on 12 May, and that a psychiatric evaluation was directed. The article gives the accused's age as 40, while the case record says 41.
accused, Patrick Horan, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Horanvictim, female - 13 May2024Man remanded in custody accused of causing fear to female jogger in Laois
Adds the bail hearing: a Garda objected to bail, bail was refused and the accused was remanded in custody. The article also gives his age as 40, adds the jogger's account, records that the accused's account differs from hers, and says legal aid was granted and a psychiatric evaluation directed.
accused, Patrick Horan, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Horanvictim, female - 13 May2024Man in court in Laois in connection with alleged 'attempted abduction'
The article gives Eyne, Portlaoise as the location, but a Garda statement quoted in it places the reported incident in Mountmellick, Co. Laois. A separate second incident involving a woman walking in the Killeen area, reported on 11 May, is also under investigation and is not part of this case.
accused, 40s, malevictim, female - 13 May2024Man due in court in connection with alleged 'attempted abduction attempt' in the Midlands
Adds that the man was charged and arrested on Saturday 11 May, that he appeared before Portlaoise District Court on 13 May, and that a separate alleged incident involving a woman walking in the Killeen area is also under investigation.
accused, malevictim, female