‘remorseful’ | 

Longford man pleads guilty to sending ‘grossly offensive’ messages to TD Mary Butler

David Larkin was handed down a three month suspended prison sentence

Today at 09:21

A Longford man who was convicted of carrying out a campaign of online social media abuse against a Fine Gael senator has been handed a second suspended sentence after pleading guilty to sending “grossly offensive” messages to Fianna Fáil Junior Health Minister Mary Butler.

David Larkin, of Ardnacassa Lawns, Longford, was handed down a three month suspended prison sentence at a sitting of Longford District Court today, January 9, after the 43-year-old was charged with two counts of sending a message that was grossly offensive, indecent or menacing to the Waterford TD.

Mr Larkin’s appearance and subsequent conviction comes a little over a month since receiving a five month prison term for sending a string of text messages and Facebook posts to Fine Gael Senator Micheal Carrigy on dates between December 20, 2021 and February 14, 2022.

Both charges, the court heard, occurred on January 18 and 19, 2022, with Mr Larkin having previously pleaded guilty on December 5, 2023.

Sgt Mark Mahon, in outlining the case before the court, said the messages sent centred around Mr Larkin’s opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine programme.

He said the accused was “vehemently opposed” to the vaccine’s rollout, adding it would appear to have been his motive in sending the abusive messages to Ms Butler.

A copy of the messages was handed into court and not read out with Sgt Mahon confirming the victim was the Minister for Mental Health and Older People.

A victim impact statement was also handed in to Judge Bernadette Owens.

Sgt Mahon said Mr Larkin cooperated fully with investigating gardaí and made full admissions when questioned over the incident.

In mitigation, defence solicitor Frank Gearty said his client was extremely apologetic over his conduct and assured the court Mr Larkin’s views, while genuine, would not be used in such a fashion going forward.

He said Mr Larkin was remorseful and issued a public apology to Ms Butler.

The court heard Mr Larkin was a single man, who hailed from Dublin originally and in the past spent 14 years in the US before returning home.

Mr Gearty said the accused was continuing to engage with a psychologist and probation services and was doing his best to turn his life around.

Part of those efforts had seen Mr Larkin secure work in the catering industry.

“He has given in the other matter categorical assurance to the victims he will make no further contact directly or indirectly and he went far beyond the bounds of what was correct in the manner in which he wrote the messages,” said Mr Gearty.

“He acknowledges he caused hurt and he assures the victim he bears no malice towards her and regrets what happened and he has asked me to apologise to her publicly for what he did.”

Mr Gearty said while his client was fully aware he had a suspended sentence “hanging over him,” he implored the court not to activate it as the offence before the court happened prior to the earlier suspended sentence being recorded.

In delivering her verdict, Judge Owens said the court was obligated to give Mr Larkin credit for entering a guilty plea and for assisting gardaí with their investigation.

She also was at pains to stress the charges before the court were not “at the same level” as the charges which arose out of the case involving Senator Carrigy.

She consequently sentenced him to a period of three months, suspending the term for a period of 12 months.