Councillor warns ‘keyboard warriors’ after stalking case
A councillor has warned “keyboard warriors” from abusing elected members after a two-year legal case regarding stalking threats made to him.
Defendant, Patrick McCartan, 67, of Rathgannon, Warrenpoint was charged with harassing Newry, Mourne and Down District councillor, Jarlath Tinnelly as he was seeking re-election in 2023 from May 1 to 18.
The contest case was due to be heard at Newry Courthouse on September 16, but was withdrawn at the last minute after the defendant accepted a caution.
Cllr Tinnelly, who is an independent councillor for the Crotlieve area, said: "I thought it important to pursue this as an elected councillor... to let every other councillor throughout the country know and realise that in this day and age of social media onslaught, we don’t have to put up with this nonsense.”
He said that online abuse is “now constant, 24/7 for most elected members everywhere.
“Also, the people who do this, the keyboard warriors, they have to realise if they step over the line there are going to be legal consequences, it’s as simple as that.
“The online world is not a free for all, to have a go at elected members and there are consequences for their actions. In that regard I am glad that we went forward with this.”
McCartan had previously pleaded “not guilty” with the matter being taken to contest.
However, on Tuesday a barrister for the defendant told the court: “An alternative course has been taken and he is now accepting a caution.”
District Judge Anne Marshall then ordered the charges to be withdrawn with a caution to be administered.
The charges against McCartan included harassment, improper use of public electronic communication, persistent improper use of communication causing anxiety and threatening or abusive behaviour under the stalking act.
Councillor Tinnelly added: "This has been going on for more than two years and has been hanging over my head.
“It was always there [and] even though I knew I was only coming here to the courts today as a witness, there is always that element of uncertainty, as you don’t know what is going to happen.
“I am happy enough [with] the way the matter was resolved because even though it didn’t get into a full court hearing, I am glad to now put this matter behind me.”