Ireland Case No. 2166Harassment (persistently communicating causing alarm and distress) · Co. Clare · 6 Jun 2020
Man sentenced for Facebook harassment of Clare garda at Ennis
Jason Downes, 31, of Kilmihil, Co Clare, was sentenced at Ennis Circuit Court on 12 March 2025 to a 22-month prison term with the final 14 months suspended for harassing Garda David (Daithi) King by persistently communicating with him via a fake Facebook account between 6 and 16 June 2020. The messages, sent from a profile named Tommy Teirnan, included photos of Garda King on duty and at weddings, and a message to his wife Ciara Bohan calling him a coward. Garda King had seized a car driven by Downes's brother on 8 June 2020, hours before the first message was sent. A jury at Ennis Circuit Court returned a majority 10-2 guilty verdict on 5 November 2024 after a trial that began in late October 2024.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court29 Oct
5 reports - Convicted5 Nov
2 reports - Sentenced12 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Anonymous Facebook messages and posts were sent from a profile named Tommy Teirnan, spelt wrong, about Garda King between 6 and 16 June 2020, including photos of him on duty and at weddings.
- A message received on 16 June 2020 told Garda King's wife Ciara Bohan to tell her husband he was a coward and would be sorry.
- When
- The alleged harassment occurred between 6 and 16 June 2020.
- Where
- The trial and sentencing took place at Ennis Circuit Court.
- Cause
- Garda King seized a car driven by Downes's brother Nathan on 8 June 2020, hours before the first message was sent.
- Investigation
- Gardaí seized Downes's phone and found the email address used to set up the Tommy Teirnan Facebook profile; Downes denied at interview in June 2022 that he made the posts.
- Charges
- Jason Downes was charged with harassing Garda David (Daithi) King by persistently communicating with him between 6 and 16 June 2020, contrary to Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
- In court
- A jury at Ennis Circuit Court returned a majority 10-2 guilty verdict on 5 November 2024.
- Sentence
- Judge Francis Comerford imposed a 22-month prison term with the final 14 months suspended on 12 March 2025, a headline 32-month term.
- Other details
- Ciara Bohan, who was seven months pregnant with a toddler at home, said she was left nervous and scared by the anonymous messages.
- Garda King said in a victim impact statement that Downes acted like a coward and concocted lies about him.
79 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGarda King's wife received anonymous Facebook Messenger messages about her husband in June 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe messages came from a Facebook profile named Tommy Teirnan, spelt wrong. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA message on 16 June 2020 said the husband would be very sorry when the sender found out more about him. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA post on 8 June 2020 from the Tommy Teirnan profile included photos on Facebook. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMessages were sent from a Facebook profile with the name Tommy Teirnan, spelt wrong. (clareecho.ie)
- whatA message received on 16 June 2020 told the garda's wife to tell her husband he was a coward and would be sorry. (clareecho.ie)
- whatThe posts included photos of Garda King on duty, on his wedding day and at a relative's wedding. (clareecho.ie)
- whatThe comments were allegedly made through a fake Facebook account named Tommy Teirnan, spelt wrongly. (clareecho.ie)
- whatA June 8, 2020 post by the Tommy Teirnan profile included photos of Garda King. (clareecho.ie)
- whatCiara Bohan said she was left nervous and scared by the anonymous Facebook comments. (clareecho.ie)
- whatA message was received on Ciara Bohan's Facebook account on June 16, 2020. (clareecho.ie)
- whatGarda King has worked in the west Clare area since 2017 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAfter Garda King deleted his social media accounts in 2020, Downes contacted his wife via Facebook messenger making false allegations (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCiara Bohan was seven months pregnant and had a toddler at home when she received the messages (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused was accused of persistently communicating with Garda King between June 6 and June 16, 2020. (clareecho.ie)
- whatThe accused also sent a Facebook Messenger message to Garda King's wife, Ciara Bohan. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe trial took place at Ennis Circuit Court. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe trial is being heard at Ennis Circuit Court. (irishmirror.ie, clareecho.ie)
- whenThe messages were sent between 6 and 16 June 2020. (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe messages were sent in June 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe alleged offences were between June 6 and June 16, 2020. (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe alleged offences were on dates between June 6 and June 16, 2020. (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe communications took place between 6 and 16 June 2020. (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe harassment occurred between June 6 and June 16, 2020 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe harassment took place in June 2020. (clareecho.ie)
- causeGarda King seized a car driven by Nathan Downes on 8 June 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeOn 8 June 2020, Garda King had an interaction with the accused's brother and seized a car he was driving. (clareecho.ie)
- causeThe first message was sent hours after Garda King seized a car from Downes's brother, Nathan, on 8 June 2020. (clareecho.ie)
- causeThe accused used a mobile phone with two SIM cards to avoid detection. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationGardaí seized Jason Downes's phone and found the email address used to set up the Tommy Teirnan profile. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationJason Downes was questioned and denied knowledge of the posts. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí found the email address used to set up the Tommy Teirnan Facebook profile after Downes's phone was seized. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationDownes's phone was seized. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationAt interview, Downes said he did not send any messages about Garda King. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAt interview, Downes repeatedly denied having any role in posting the Facebook messages. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí put circumstantial technical evidence concerning an email account to Downes at interview. (irishmirror.ie, clareecho.ie)
- investigationAt interview in June 2022, Downes repeatedly denied making the posts. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationThe defence said there was strong evidence that Jason Downes's phone was involved in the messages. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationThe prosecution said the Tommy Teirnan Facebook account was established using an email address linked to Jason Downes's phone. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationThe State said Downes set up a fake Tommy Teirnan Facebook account. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeJason Downes denies harassing Garda David (Daithi) King between 6 and 16 June 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeJason Downes denies harassing David King by persistently communicating about him, causing alarm and distress. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeJason Downes denies harassing Garda David King between 6 and 16 June 2020 contrary to Section 10 of the Non Fatal Offences Against The Person Act. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeDownes denies harassing David King by persistently communicating about him, causing alarm and distress. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeJason Downes denies harassing David King by persistently communicating with him. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeDownes was accused of harassing Garda David (Daithi) King by persistently communicating with him. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeThe offence was contrary to Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act (irishmirror.ie, clareecho.ie)
- courtThe trial is at Ennis Circuit Court before a jury. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial was continuing the following day. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe trial continues on Friday. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial continues on Tuesday. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe jury was to resume its deliberations on Tuesday morning. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe jury returned a majority 10-2 guilty verdict at Ennis Circuit Court. (clareecho.ie)
- courtDownes was remanded on continuing bail to 13 December to fix a date for sentence. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe judge directed that Garda King be asked whether he wants to submit a victim impact statement. (clareecho.ie)
- courtJudge Francis Comerford remanded Downes on continuing bail pending sentence on Friday (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe sentence was imposed at Ennis Circuit Court. (clareecho.ie)
- courtA jury returned a majority 10-2 guilty verdict last November. (clareecho.ie)
- sentenceJudge Comerford imposed a 22-month prison term with the final 14 months suspended. (clareecho.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a headline 32-month prison term on the accused. (clareecho.ie)
- sentenceThe judge said the accused may serve around six months with 25 percent remission. (clareecho.ie)
- otherGarda King said he was distressed by the messages and posts, which included photos of him on duty and at his wedding. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe trial continues on Wednesday. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherCiara Bohan said she was left upset and vulnerable by the anonymous messages about her husband. (clareecho.ie)
- otherDownes was questioned and denied knowledge of the posts. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe State alleges the comments were made through a fake Facebook account. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDownes’s counsel said he was adamant he was not responsible for the material. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherOne message to Garda King’s wife said her husband was only a coward and would be sorry. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGarda King said he was distressed by the messages and posts. (irishmirror.ie, clareecho.ie)
- otherDownes spelled the name Tommy Tiernan as Tommy Ternan at interview. (clareecho.ie)
- otherCiara Bohan told the jury she was left nervous and scared by the anonymous messages. (clareecho.ie)
- otherA message on June 16, 2020 told Ms Bohan to tell her husband he was a coward. (clareecho.ie)
- otherGarda King told the jury he was distressed by the messages and posts. (clareecho.ie)
- otherOn June 8, 2020 Garda King seized a car driven by the accused's brother, Nathan Downes, who was driving without a licence and insurance. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe defence said there was no evidence that Jason Downes had grudges against the Gardaí. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe prosecution said Jason Downes did not answer questions honestly to Gardaí. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe judge said the sentence had to be immediate because the accused lied to gardaí and relied on those lies before a jury. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe judge said the apology was pro-forma and impersonal and was not of great mitigation. (clareecho.ie)
- otherIn a victim impact statement, Garda King said the accused acted like a coward and concocted lies about him. (clareecho.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Mar2025Kilmihil man given eight month prison term for 'eight day of harassment' of Garda - Clare Echo
Reports the sentencing hearing at Ennis Circuit Court on 12 March 2025: 22-month term with final 14 months suspended, headline 32 months, and an expected six months served with remission. Adds the victim impact statements and the judge's comments on the apology, character and the defendant's lies to gardaí.
convicted, Jason Downes, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Downesvictim, David (Daithí) King, irish (judged from name)David (Daithí) Kingvictim, Ciara Bohan, female, irish (judged from name)Ciara Bohan - 5 Mar2025'Coward' who harassed Garda concocted lies about him on fake Facebook account
Sentencing hearing at Ennis Circuit Court where Garda King's victim impact statement was read; Downes remanded on continuing bail pending sentence to be imposed on Friday.
victim, Daithi King, male, irish (judged from name)Daithi Kingconvicted, Jason Downes, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Downesvictim, Ciara Bohan, female, irish (judged from name)Ciara Bohan - 5 Nov2024Kilmihil man found guilty of harassing Garda on Facebook - Clare Echo
Reports the jury's guilty verdict at Ennis Circuit Court on 5 November 2024, the remand on bail for sentencing, and the judge's direction about a victim impact statement. It also gives evidence from Garda King and his wife about the messages and posts.
convicted, Jason Downes, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Downesvictim, David (Daithi) King, male, irish (judged from name)David (Daithi) Kingvictim, Ciara Bohan, female, irish (judged from name)Ciara Bohan - 4 Nov2024Jury to continue deliberations in case of Kilmihil man accussed of harassing Clare Garda - Clare Echo
Reports the closing speeches at Ennis Circuit Court and that the jury would resume deliberations on Tuesday. Adds the defence and prosecution arguments and the dates of the alleged messages. No verdict is reported in this article.
accused, Jason Downes, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Downesvictim, David (Daithi) King, irish (judged from name)David (Daithi) Kingvictim, Ciara Bohan, female, irish (judged from name)Ciara Bohan - 1 Nov2024Kilmihil man denies making anonymous Facebook posts about local Garda - Clare Echo
Reports the Ennis Circuit Court trial: Downes's denials at interview, the State's case on a fake Tommy Teirnan Facebook account, and testimony from Ciara Bohan and Garda King. No verdict is reported in this article.
accused, Jason Downes, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Downesvictim, David (Daithi) King, male, irish (judged from name)David (Daithi) Kingvictim, Ciara Bohan, female, irish (judged from name)Ciara Bohan - 31 Oct2024Man denies calling Garda 'sh**ty arse coward' in messages to Garda's wife
Trial report: the accused denies the harassment charge. Jury heard interview denials, circumstantial technical evidence about an email account, and evidence from the victim and his wife. Trial continues on Friday.
accused, Jason Downes, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Downesvictim, David (Daithi) King, male, irish (judged from name)David (Daithi) Kingvictim, Ciara Bohan, female, irish (judged from name)Ciara Bohan - 30 Oct2024Wife of Clare garda tells jury she was left 'nervous and scared' over 'nasty' anonymous Facebook comments about her husband - Clare Echo
Trial-day report from Ennis Circuit Court on 30 October 2024. Adds evidence from Ciara Bohan and Garda King, the June 8 car seizure background, the June 16 message, and the seizure of Downes's phone and questioning, while the trial continued.
accused, Jason Downes, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Downesvictim, David (Daithi) King, male, irish (judged from name)David (Daithi) Kingvictim, Ciara Bohan, female, irish (judged from name)Ciara Bohan - 29 Oct2024Garda's wife tells of distress after messages from anonymous Facebook account
Trial report from Ennis Circuit Court with witness evidence from Ciara Bohan and Garda King; the messages were sent from a profile named Tommy Teirnan, and gardaí traced an email address to the account. Trial continues on the following Wednesday.
accused, Jason Downes, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Downesvictim, David (Daithi) King, male, irish (judged from name)David (Daithi) King