A judge has jailed an ex-Garda and sex offender for four months for masturbating in clear view of three women in the south Galway town of Gort last June.
At Gort District Court, Judge Adrian Harris said that Francis Hannon, aged 69, of Poolboy Cottages, Ballinasloe, Co Galway had engaged in "disgusting, deplorable and awful behaviour" when fully naked and masturbating in clear view of the women on 15 June 2025 from an address in Gort.
Judge Harris said that "an aggravating factor here is that Mr Hannon is a former Garda".
Judge Harris said that having read the complainant's victim impact statement, "I can see how upsetting it must have been and what an awful experience it was for her".
Hannon pleaded guilty to exposing his genitals intending to cause fear, distress or alarm to a woman on 15 June at an address in Gort contrary to Section 45(1) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.
In court, Sgt Claire Henaghan said that Hannon has 44 previous convictions that include one for sexual assault in the circuit court under Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act in 1997 and another prior conviction for harassment.
Sgt Henaghan said that Hannon is currently in custody for the same offence to what was before Gort court, and is facing a similar case in another court in Galway.
Outlining the case, Sgt Henaghan said that at 2pm on 15 June last, the injured party, from her home in Gort, observed a man fully naked in his upstairs bedroom of accommodation for the homeless at a neighbouring property and he was masturbating, fully naked and was aware that there were people observing him.
Solicitor for Hannon, Ann Gillane said that Hannon cannot explain his actions on the day. Ms Gillane said that Hannon was depressed at the time following his divorce.
Ms Gillane said that Hannon apologises to the injured party.
In the woman’s victim impact statement, the woman said, "since this incident I have felt extremely vulnerable and unsafe in my own home and community".
She said: "As a single woman living alone, I now experience anxiety even when looking out my window or going into my own garden. What should feel like a place of safety no longer does."
She said that as a former Garda, Hannon "fully understands the difference between right and wrong. He knew that exposing himself to three women was completely unacceptable and deeply distressing behaviour".
The woman said that "this incident has had a lasting emotional impact on me. It has affected how safe I feel in my daily life, in my home and in my community".
Speaking outside the courthouse after the case today, the complainant in the case said that she was "sickened" by the four-month prison term imposed.
She said that she was "disappointed" with the sentence imposed, considering Hannon’s 44 previous convictions.
Recalling the man’s indecent exposure, the woman said: "For 45 minutes he was doing it. He knew that we were watching him, and he knew that we were filming him. We had video evidence. We were all traumatised by what we saw."
The woman said that she did not know or had not seen Hannon before the incident.
The woman said that she only found out a few days after that Hannon is an ex-Garda.
Another eyewitness to the indecent, and neighbour and female friend of the complainant, speaking outside court after the case said: "The incident was horrific and prolonged, and he knew that we were watching."
