Sean Tyrell jailed under Coco's Law for harassing Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion
Sean Tyrell, a man, was jailed on 28 April 2025 for harassing Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion, a woman, after their relationship ended in August 2022. Following the split, Tyrell made false accusations that Funchion had been unfaithful, contacted a journalist at a national newspaper claiming a Sinn Féin politician was making false claims about domestic violence and financial abuse, and demanded she take a lie detector test. He was charged under Section 4 of the Harassment and Harmful Communications Act 2020, commonly known as Coco's Law. The court sentenced him to four months in prison, with a separate four-month term suspended for two years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced30 Apr
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Tyrell made false accusations that Funchion had been unfaithful.
- After the split, Tyrell contacted a journalist at a national newspaper claiming a Sinn Féin politician was making false claims about domestic violence and financial abuse.
- One of his demands was that Funchion take a lie detector test.
- When
- They began a relationship in 2016 and split in August 2022.
- Charges
- Tyrell was charged under Section 4 of the Harassment and Harmful Communications Act 2020.
- In court
- Tyrell was sentenced on 28 April 2025.
- Sentence
- He was jailed for four months, with a separate four-month term suspended for two years.
7 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTyrell made false accusations about Ms Funchion, saying she had been unfaithful (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAfter the split, Tyrell contacted a journalist at a national newspaper claiming a Sinn Féin politician was making false claims about domestic violence and financial abuse (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOne of his demands was that she take a lie detector test (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThey began a relationship in 2016 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThey split in August 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceSean Tyrell was jailed for four months under Section 4 of the Harassment and Harmful Communications Act (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceA separate four-month jail term was suspended for two years (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Apr2025Sinn Fein MEP admits to 'serious' trust issues after ex jailed under Coco's Law
Article reports the sentencing and includes Ms Funchion's personal account of the coercive control, her decision to go to the Gardaí, and her comments on the lasting impact on her trust.
victim, Kathleen Funchion, female, irish (judged from name)Kathleen Funchionconvicted, Sean Tyrell, male, namedSean Tyrell