THE DISTRICT Court has ordered a man, who was yesterday charged with harassing a former Fianna Fáil councillor, not to have any contact with the councillor pending a court hearing.
Joe Delaney, Ballyhagan, Carbury, Co Kildare, was charged with harassing Gerard Killally, a former cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council and election running mate of former taoiseach Brian Cowen.
Garda Gerard Feeley told Dublin District Court judge Aeneus McCarthy that Mr Delaney was arrested on Monday evening and held in custody overnight at Tullamore Garda station.
The 55-year-old was charged with harassing Mr Killally between August 15th and 22nd last at Shean, Edenderry, Co Offaly, under section 10 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act.
The garda said when the charges were put to Mr Delaney yesterday morning he did not reply. He was then taken to Dublin to appear in court.
Garda Feeley said Mr Delaney had no previous convictions and he had no objection to the defendant being released on bail pending a hearing, provided that he gave an undertaking to keep away from Mr Killally.
Mr Delaney’s solicitor, John Wood, asked that his client be requested to stay away from the Shean area instead, because he lived quite close to Mr Killally.
But the garda objected. He said the defendant lived in Carbury near Edenderry and “it would be better if he keeps away from the person”.
“This man has been following around the injured party,” he said.
Judge McCarthy said he would not make Mr Delaney swear to keep away from Mr Killally, but he would make it a condition of his bail.
“He is to have no contact whatever with the injured party,” Judge McCarthy said.
Mr Delaney was then remanded on bail with free legal aid, to appear at Edenderry District Court in October.
Mr Killally was a general election candidate in 1997 and 2002, and represented Edenderry as a local councillor.
But he did not go forward for the local elections in 2009 after a series of civil court cases were taken against him in relation to his financial dealings.
