Ireland Case No. 4278Harassment (harmful communication) · Co. Dublin · 30 Aug 2025
Woman sentenced to six months for online threats to Simon Harris
Sandra Barry, 40, of Lucan, Dublin, was sentenced to six months in prison at Dublin District Court for sending threatening social media messages to Tánaiste Simon Harris in August 2025 under the 2020 Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act. The defence indicated the case would be fully contested on appeal in the Circuit Court.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged20 Nov
2 reports - In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced18 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports39 statements extracted from the articles
- whatProsecutors allege she sent a number of threatening messages to Simon Harris. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSandra Barry, 40, appeared at the Criminal Courts of Justice charged with one offence of threatening or grossly offensive communication to Mr Harris. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHer defence said the social media messages were threatening to the injured party and to his family. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe messages were sent to Simon Harris's Instagram account. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe accused appeared at Dublin District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe case was heard at Dublin District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMs Barry was arrested by warrant and charged at Store Street Garda station at 9.03am on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offence is alleged to have happened on 30 August. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe case followed an investigation by the Garda Special Detective Unit. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe detective said the woman was identified through social media. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí found six messages in total over one evening after examining the metadata. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí obtained a warrant to examine the account and identified Barry. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeShe was charged with sending a threatening or grossly offensive communication to Simon Harris with intent to cause harm on 30 August 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe offence is under the 2020 Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeBarry was charged at 9.03am on a Thursday and made no reply to the charge after caution. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe charge falls under the 2020 Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe DPP directed summary disposal of the case in the District Court rather than the Circuit Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe accused had not yet entered a plea and was ordered to appear again on December 18th. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThere was no objection to cashless bail, subject to conditions sought by the detective. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBail conditions require her to sign on weekly at her local Garda station and to have no contact with Simon Harris, including via social media. (irishtimes.com)
- courtShe was warned she risked bail revocation and remand in custody if she breached the terms. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThere was no objection to bail. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBail conditions include no contact with Mr Harris, directly, indirectly or on social media, and signing in weekly at Ronanstown Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge warned that bail could be revoked if the conditions were breached. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBarry is next due before Dublin District Court on 18 December at 10.30am. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Michele Finan presided over the sentencing. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe DPP directed summary disposal and Judge Finan accepted jurisdiction in the District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBarry was released on €200 appeal bail after sentencing. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Finan refused to suspend the sentence, citing the victim impact statement and aggravating evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe messages were implied threats rather than explicit ones. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe court heard there were two messages, but metadata showed up to six, sent over one evening. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLegal aid was granted after a statement of her means was given to the court. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBarry lives at Tor an Ri in Balgaddy, Lucan, Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHer defence said the messages were implied threats rather than explicit threats. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe court heard Barry works as an equine hand on minimum wage. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBarry has eight prior convictions since 2019, mainly for traffic offences and one for drug possession. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBarry had been on a new anti-depression medication at the time of the messages. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBarry believed a child had been abducted at the time, which was playing on her mind. (irishtimes.com)
- otherIn her past, Barry had been the victim of a serious assault. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Dec2025‘Three minutes of madness’: Woman sentenced for ‘catastrophic’ online threats to Simon Harris
Reports the sentencing of Sandra Barry to six months for online threats to Simon Harris, including details of the messages, the investigation, mitigation arguments, and the defence's intention to appeal.
convicted, Sandra Barry, 40, female, named, irish (judged from name)Sandra Barryvictim, Simon Harris, male, irish (judged from name)Simon Harris - 20 Nov2025Woman, 40, in court charged with threatening Tanaiste Simon Harris
Reports Barry's charge at the Criminal Courts of Justice and her bail conditions, with the next court date set for 18 December in Dublin District Court. Adds that six messages were sent over one evening and that the messages were implied rather than explicit threats.
accused, Sandra Barry, 40, female, named, irish (judged from name)Sandra Barryvictim, Simon Harris, irish (judged from name)Simon Harris - 20 Nov2025Woman charged with sending threatening messages to Simon Harris
Reports the charge, the arrest by warrant, the District Court appearance and bail conditions. This is the earlier charge stage of the case already recorded as sentenced.
accused, Sandra Barry, 40, female, named, irish (judged from name)Sandra Barryvictim, Simon Harris, irish (judged from name)Simon Harris