Ireland Crime

Named as

Suspect, victim

Offences

Harassment (harmful communications), Constitutional challenge, Threats to kill (Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, Section 5)

Where

Co. Galway

Reporting

9 reports, 18 Jan 2024 to 5 Jun 2026

Outlets

rte.ie, irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie

Photographs

as published, with the outlet's credit

Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.

• Man sentenced for harmful communications against Naughton and Kyne in Galway Harassment (harmful communications) · Co. Galway

  On 9 and 10 January 2024, Daragh O'Flaherty, 49, of Clarinbridge, Co Galway, allegedly posted threatening communications on Telegram about Hildegarde Naughton and Seán Kyne, stating they would need an ambulance, fire brigade and police or six stitches. He was charged in March 2024 with four offences under Section 4 of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and related offences Act 2020 at Galway District Court. Naughton told the court in October 2024 she was frightened for her personal safety and had to reassess her movements, and Kyne said he took the video as a direct threat. In June 2026, Judge Patricia Cronin found O'Flaherty guilty and sentenced him to four months in prison, to run concurrently, and he intends to appeal to the Circuit Court.

  Sentenced, 5 Jun 2026Victim · 4 reports
• Supreme Court reserves judgment in super junior ministers constitutional challenge Constitutional challenge

  Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly and People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy launched separate legal challenges in January 2025 arguing that the attendance of super junior ministers at Cabinet meetings breaches Article 28 of the Constitution, which limits government members to 15. A three-judge High Court panel dismissed both challenges in December 2025, finding no constitutional provision restricts Cabinet attendance to the 15 appointed ministers, and awarded the TDs 50 per cent of their legal costs against the State. The TDs were given leave to appeal to the Supreme Court, which heard the case before a seven-judge panel from 21 to 23 October 2026. The Supreme Court reserved its judgment on 23 October 2026.

  In court, 28 Jan 2025Suspect · 3 reports
• Man remanded on bail over threat to kill TD in Galway Threats to kill (Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act · Co. Galway

  Daragh O'Flaherty, 47, of Clarinbridge, Galway, was charged with making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Hildegarde Naughton, a Fine Gael TD for Galway West and Government Chief Whip. The incident is alleged to have occurred on 10 January 2024 at an unknown location in the district court area of Galway. He appeared at Galway District Court on 17 January 2024 and was remanded on bail subject to conditions, including staying away from the homes and offices of all Galway politicians and having no contact with the alleged injured party. He is due to appear again on 13 March 2024 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  In court, 18 Jan 2024Victim · 2 reports

Each entry shows how that report described them.

1. 5 Jun2026
   Sentencedrte.ie, in Man sentenced for harmful communications against Naughton and Kyne in Galway

   Man jailed for threatening Fine Gael's Naughton, Kyne

   victim, Hildegarde Naughton, female, irish (judged from name)Hildegarde Naughton♀IE
2. 5 Feb2025
   In courtirishmirror.ie, in Supreme Court reserves judgment in super junior ministers constitutional challenge

   Leo Varadkar could be a witness in Super Junior Minister High Court case

   suspect, Hildegarde Naughton, named, irish (judged from name)Hildegarde NaughtonIE
3. 29 Jan2025
   In courtirishtimes.com, in Supreme Court reserves judgment in super junior ministers constitutional challenge

   High Court permits Sinn Féin TD to pursue challenge to super junior minister appointments

   suspect, Hildegarde Naughton, female, named, irish (judged from name)Hildegarde Naughton♀IE
4. 29 Jan2025
   In courtirishmirror.ie, in Supreme Court reserves judgment in super junior ministers constitutional challenge

   Sinn Féin launches High Court action over Government's 'Super Junior Ministers'

   suspect, Hildegarde Naughton, named, irish (judged from name)Hildegarde NaughtonIE
5. 11 Oct2024
   In courtthejournal.ie, in Man sentenced for harmful communications against Naughton and Kyne in Galway

   Hildegarde Naughton 'frightened' for personal safety after online threat to give her 'stitches', court hears

   victim, Hildegarde Naughton, female, irish (judged from name)Hildegarde Naughton♀IE
6. 11 Oct2024
   In courtirishtimes.com, in Man sentenced for harmful communications against Naughton and Kyne in Galway

   Hildegarde Naughton was ‘frightened’ for personal safety after ‘six stitches’ online threat, court hears

   victim, Hildegarde Naughton, female, irish (judged from name)Hildegarde Naughton♀IE
7. 5 Mar2024
   In courtrte.ie, in Man sentenced for harmful communications against Naughton and Kyne in Galway

   Man in court over communications to Naughton, Kyne

   victim, Hildegarde Naughton, female, irish (judged from name)Hildegarde Naughton♀IE
8. 19 Jan2024
   In courtthejournal.ie, in Man remanded on bail over threat to kill TD in Galway

   Galway man charged with making threat to kill Government Minister Hildegarde Naughton

   victim, Hildegarde Naughton, female, irish (judged from name)Hildegarde Naughton♀IE
9. 18 Jan2024
   In courtirishtimes.com, in Man remanded on bail over threat to kill TD in Galway

   Man charged with threatening TD Hildegarde Naughton ordered to stay away from homes and offices of Galway politicians

   victim, Hildegarde Naughton, irish (judged from name)Hildegarde NaughtonIE

Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.