A man who advertised a woman on the Internet as a prostitute willing to perform various sexual acts has been remanded on bail for sentencing on May 11th.
Francis Kenny (40), of Knock Road, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, admitted posting the advertisement in relation to the woman, a business competitor, saying that he knew she would receive phone calls as a result which would probably cause her distress.
He had been charged under Section 12 of the Defamation Act, 1961.
At Castlebar Circuit Court, sitting in Westport, Sgt John Hynes said the defendant was a sandwich operator who traded mostly in Mayo and Connacht under the name Fresh Cuts.
His victim, Ms Maureen Walker, was in the same business, trading under the name Exclusive Sandwiches.
On March 6th, 2000, Kenny had placed an advertisement on the "Escort Ireland" website, which advertised prostitutes and the services they offered.
In the advertisement, which he titled "Exclusive.Maureen", he typed a letter giving her description, age, services she would be willing to perform and the prices she would charge.
The advertisement featured her mobile telephone number.
The afternoon after her number appeared Ms Walker received a call from a man asking if she operated throughout the west of Ireland.
She replied that she did.
The conversation continued for some time before she realised that there was some misunderstanding.
She told the man that she operated a sandwich business and he hung up.
Over the next two days Ms Walker received 100 calls from men inquiring about prostitution services.
Many of them became abusive when she told them the advertisement was erroneous.
On March 8th Ms Walker made a complaint to the Garda. Kenny at first denied any part in placing the advertisement, but later admitted it.
"It was a woman's worst nightmare, receiving a phone call from a man saying he was ringing because he required the services of a prostitute. From then on my phone never stopped ringing", Ms Walker told Judge Carroll Moran.
The judge said it was an appalling thing to have done.
Counsel for Kenny said that his client was not a man of great means, but he had managed to raise £10,000, which he had in court.
Judge Moran said the amount was totally inadequate.
It would not come near what a civil remedy for the case would amount to in an award of damages.
He adjourned the case until May 11th, placing the defendant on continuing bail provided that he handed the £10,000 in to court.