Ennis man who sent lewd images of himself to female addiction counsellor at 'high risk' of re-offending

Gordon Deegan

An Ennis man who sent lewd images of himself to an addiction counsellor and exposed himself in public is at “high risk” of re-offending, a court has heard.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett commented that a Probation Report on Shane McCarthy has concluded that he is at “high risk”.

Judge Gabbett said that the Probation Report on Mr McCarthy "is exactly as I suspected it would be".

Solicitor, Daragh Hassett for Mr McCarthy said that his client is at high risk when he is on drugs “and he is not using at the moment”.

Mr Hassett said: “Now, he is completely sober and free from drugs and leading a regulated lifestyle.”

Mr Hassett said that Mr McCarthy is willing provide urine samples each week to show that he remains sober and is hoping to get a place at a treatment centre “and judge if he is under your supervision that will help”.

In the case, Shane McCarthy (30) of Shanballa, Lahinch Road, Ennis pleaded guilty to sending four lewd images of himself to his then addiction counsellor on May 5th last year.

A cocaine addict, Mr McCarthy told the court earlier this month that he has been clean since December 18th and “I am living at home and my wife is keeping a good eye on me”.

In reply Judge Gabbett said: “If there are prizes going for patience, she would be getting it.”

After reading the victim impact statement provided to the court by the addiction counsellor, Judge Gabbett said previously that it shows that “this lady has had a very significant derailment of her life because of what has happened”.

Mr McCarthy told the court: “I am sorry for all of that.”

Sgt John Burke told the court that two of the grossly offensive communications to the addiction counsellor concerned one second videos of Mr McCarthy’s penis.

Sgt Burke said that four grossly offensive images consisted of two videos and two still images of Mr McCarthy’s penis.

Judge Gabbett said that he has concerns for the public over the behaviour of Shane McCarthy, who he said has also effectively pleaded guilty to masturbating in public at two locations in Ennis in recent months.

Mr McCarthy has pleaded guilty to masturbating in a public place at Silvergrove, Ballybeg, Ennis on August 31st last year and the possession of cocaine on the same date at Ennis Garda Station.

Mr McCarthy is charged with masturbating in a public place on December 18th last at Ballyalla Lake on the northern outskirts of Ennis.

Mr Hassett told Judge Gabbett that he was in the process of having a consultant psychologist carry out a report on his client.

Judge Gabbett further remanded Mr McCarthy on bail to appear in court on February 25th.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.