A former senior figure in the Society of St Vincent de Paul has escaped conviction after he agreed to pay €500 to a court charity.
Michael Dooley, 73, from Lennon Melia Terrace in Dundalk was convicted of harassing four women in a charity shop on Jocelyn Street in the town between January 2001 and December 2009.
The women told the District Court earlier this month that the defendant touched them inappropriately and had made suggestive comments.
Passing sentence today, Judge Flann Brennan said the defendant had previously been a man of impeccable character who would not be before the courts again.
However, he had acted in an inappropriate manner with the women.
On payment of €500 to the court charity, the Judge said he would mark the facts proven in the case but not proceed to an actual conviction.
