Jailed for exposing himself to woman at Athlone canal

A “very creepy” man who exposed his penis to a pregnant woman walking along the canal while her partner swam alongside her, has been jailed for 12 months.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Judge Deirdre Browne at a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Court, where details were heard of the incident, which took place on May 15, 2024.

The court heard from Garda Brian O’Connor, who outlined how, at 11am on the date in question, Gardaí received reports of a male exposing himself on Talbot Avenue in Athlone.

When Gardaí arrived, they were met at the scene by the 24-year-old injured party who indicated she was walking on the canal side of Talbot Avenue when she saw a male in the bushes, who came out, fully clothed, as she approached.

The male proceeded to pull down the front of his trousers and began touching his penis while staring at her, she said. The woman got a fright and “gave out to him” because he was “very creepy”.

The woman, who was five months pregnant, managed to grab a hold of the man, but he swung a Dunnes Stores bag at her, hitting her in the head.

Her partner, who had been swimming alongside in the canal, helped to restrain the man until Gardaí arrived.

The man was cautioned, arrested and conveyed to Athlone Garda Station, where he was later released. On May 21, 2024, he was arrested again and charged with exposing his genitals in an attempt to cause fear, distress or alarm to another.

The court heard how the man was in his 30s at the time, and had six previous convictions - all for road traffic matters, including three for no insurance. The woman chose not to write a victim impact statement.

DPP directions were, initially, for summary disposal. However, the case was deemed too serious to be dealt with at the District Court and jurisdiction was refused.

Various reports furnished to the court detailed mental health issues for the defendant, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and cannabis-induced psychosis. However, he is on medication and doing well in prison, the court heard.

“This offence seems to have come out of the blue of his history,” said Mr Cooney.

Judge Browne noted the man had pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals in “remarkably, not an isolated area”. The offence carries a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment.

“The victim had the presence of mind and the robustness of character to apprehend you and kept you at the scene until Gardaí arrived,” she said, addressing the defendant.

She noted the man was “not someone with any particular criminal propensity”, having amassed some six road traffic convictions. He also accepted responsibility for the offence, according to the probation report. However, she noted a lack of insight into the behaviour.

Judge Browne accepted the man had “significant mental health concerns” at the time, for which he was not receiving treatment. He presented at that time as “unpredictable”, but is now an “enhanced prisoner”, has stabilised and is “relieved to be in custody”.

She proceeded to hand down a sentence of 12 months in prison, backdated to his entry into custody, meaning he has already served his sentence for this offence. The charge of assault on the woman with the Dunnes Stores bag was taken into consideration.

He remains in prison on remand over other charges.

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