Ireland Man to face circuit court trial over sexual letters sent to Offaly school principal
Philip McGachey has been charged with harassment over anonymous letters of a sexual and graphic nature allegedly sent to the acting principal of a national school in Offaly. Gardaí were told of the letters on December 9, 2021, and reported a DNA match under a stamp on one letter on January 1, 2023. At Tullamore District Court in November 2023, the DPP directed summary disposal on a plea only, but the judge refused jurisdiction and sent the case forward for trial to the circuit criminal court. The latest development is that the accused was remanded on bail to December 20 for DPP directions.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court20 Nov
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Anonymous letters of a sexual and graphic nature were allegedly sent to the acting principal of a national school in Offaly.
- Sources differ on the number of letters: three in the initial report, and seven in total in later reporting.
- Where
- The letters were sent to a national school in Offaly.
- When
- Gardaí were told of the letters on December 9, 2021.
- Investigation
- Gardaí matched DNA under a stamp on one letter to the accused, Philip McGachey, on January 1, 2023.
- Charges
- Philip McGachey was charged with a single count of harassment.
- In court
- The hearing took place at Tullamore District Court in November 2023.
- The DPP directed summary disposal on a plea only.
- The judge refused jurisdiction and sent the case forward for trial to the circuit criminal court.
- The accused was remanded on bail to December 20 for DPP directions.
- Other details
- The accused's solicitor said he had gathered €1,000 in compensation, which the judge said was well short of what was required and had to be reconsidered.
- The judge described the letters in strongly critical terms.
- Sentence
- No sentence has been reported.
26 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAnonymous letters of a sexual nature were allegedly sent to the acting principal of a school in Offaly. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe letters were of a sexual and graphic nature. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThree anonymous letters were sent to the school. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe letters were sent to a national school in Offaly. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe matter was brought to garda attention on December 9, 2021. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenGardaí made the DNA match on January 1 of this year. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenGardaí were told of the letters on December 9, 2021. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenGardaí were told about the letters on December 9, 2021. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí matched DNA under a stamp on one letter to the defendant. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationThere were seven letters in total. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí matched DNA under a stamp on one letter to Philip McGachey. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí matched DNA under a stamp on one letter to the accused. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeThe accused faces a single charge of harassment. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeThe accused was charged with harassment. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe DPP directed summary disposal on a plea only. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe accused is to be sent forward for trial to the circuit criminal court. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge refused jurisdiction and remanded the accused on bail to December 20 for DPP directions. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge refused jurisdiction and was to send the case forward for trial to the circuit criminal court. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe case was directed to summary disposal on a plea only. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe accused was sent forward for trial to the circuit criminal court. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe judge refused jurisdiction and remanded the accused on bail. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe accused's solicitor said he had gathered €1,000 in compensation. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe judge said the €1,000 was well short of what was required. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe judge described the letters as the most vile, disgusting and inhumane letters anyone could send. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe defence said the accused had gathered up €1,000 in compensation. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe judge said the compensation amount had to be reconsidered. (offalyexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Nov2023Judges rages at 'vile and filthy' letters of a sexual nature sent to acting school principal in Offaly
Reports the Tullamore District Court sitting in which the accused, Philip McGachey, was sent forward for trial to the circuit criminal court, the DNA match, the compensation offered, and the remand to December 20.
accused, Philip McGachey, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Philip McGacheyvictim - 20 Nov2023Sexual letters sent to Offaly school principal most 'vile filth' judge has ever heard
Adds the Tullamore District Court hearing: DNA under a stamp on one letter matched McGachey, seven letters in total, the DPP directed summary disposal on a plea only, the judge refused jurisdiction and remanded him on bail, and a €1,000 compensation offer was made.
accused, Philip McGachey, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Philip McGacheyvictim - 20 Nov2023Court hears anonymous letters of a sexual nature sent to acting school principal
Court report on the hearing at Tullamore District Court. Adds that gardaí matched DNA under a stamp on one letter, that there were 7 letters in total (the existing record says three), that the DPP directed summary disposal on a plea only, that the judge refused jurisdiction and the case is to go to the circuit criminal court, that the accused offered €1,000 compensation, and that he was remanded on bail to December 20 for DPP directions.
accused, Philip McGachey, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Philip McGacheyvictim