Ireland Man's harassment sentence increased on appeal at Kilkenny Circuit Court
Seán Tyrrell, a 39-year-old man from Loughboy, Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to harassment offences under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act against his former partner, Kathleen Funchion, who was then a TD for Carlow-Kilkenny and is now a Sinn Féin MEP. The offences relate to August 2022. Kilkenny District Court imposed a four-month custodial sentence, with a separate four-month term suspended for two years, last April. Tyrrell took a severity-only appeal to Kilkenny Circuit Court, which increased the custodial sentence to five months and the suspended term to five months, and the judge said a custodial sentence was warranted and inevitable.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced16 Feb
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Tyrrell threatened to expose embarrassing allegations about Ms Funchion to journalists and other named parties if she did not meet his demands.
- Charges
- Tyrrell pleaded guilty to offences under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act against his former partner, Kathleen Funchion.
- When
- The offences relate to August 2022, when Ms Funchion was a TD for the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency.
- Where
- The case concerns Kilkenny, where Tyrrell lives and where the courts involved sit.
- Investigation
- Ms Funchion made a complaint to gardaí about email and text messages sent by Tyrrell.
- In court
- Kilkenny District Court imposed the original sentence last April.
- Tyrrell took a severity-only appeal to Kilkenny Circuit Court.
- Sentence
- The original sentence was a four-month custodial sentence, with a separate four-month term suspended for two years.
- The judge increased the custodial sentence from four months to five months.
- The judge increased the suspended sentence from four months to five months, suspended in full for two years on condition of good behaviour and no contact with or about Ms Funchion.
- The judge said a custodial sentence was warranted and inevitable.
- Other details
- The judge found the aggravating factors included premeditated actions intended to inflict harm.
- The judge treated Tyrrell as having no previous convictions.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTyrrell threatened to expose embarrassing allegations about Ms Funchion to journalists and other named parties if she did not meet his demands. (rte.ie)
- whenThe offences relate to August 2022. (rte.ie)
- investigationMs Funchion made a complaint to gardaí about email and text messages sent by the accused. (rte.ie)
- courtTyrrell took a severity-only appeal to Kilkenny Circuit Court. (rte.ie)
- sentenceTyrrell was previously given a four-month custodial sentence, with a separate four-month term suspended for two years. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge increased the custodial sentence to five months. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge increased the suspended sentence from four months to five months. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe suspended sentence is suspended in full for two years on condition of good behaviour and no contact with or about Ms Funchion. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge said a custodial sentence was warranted and inevitable. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge found the aggravating factors included premeditated actions intended to inflict harm. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge treated Tyrrell as having no previous convictions. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 16 Feb2026MEP's ex-partner has jail sentence increased on appeal
Sentence increased on appeal at Kilkenny Circuit Court. Original sentence was imposed by Kilkenny District Court the previous April. The offences relate to August 2022.
convicted, Seán Tyrrell, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seán Tyrrellvictim, Kathleen Funchion, irish (judged from name)Kathleen Funchion