Mayo man in 'long campaign of hatred and vengefulness' is sentenced

A man distributed intimate images of a former partner and pretended to be her online during a “long campaign of hatred and vengefulness."

Daniel Humphreys, aged 38, formerly of McHale Road, Castlebar, but currently of no fixed abode, appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court where he pleaded guilty to harassing Marcella Gallagher, aged 34, of Attymass, Ballina, and with two counts of distributing or publishing intimate images without her consent.

The court heard the full span of the offending occurred over a four-year period, beginning in late 2017.

Humphreys uploaded topless images of Ms. Gallagher on a number of online platforms.

He also superimposed her face onto the naked bodies of other women and ‘catfished’ a UK man into believing he had been in a relationship with the injured party for two years. He told various men online where his former partner lived and worked.

Garda Helen Cusack told the court Ms. Gallagher reported to gardaí in January 2021 that intimate photos of her had been uploaded to the internet without her knowledge.

She and the accused had been in a relationship for several years and they had a child together.

During their relationship, Ms. Gallagher had shared some intimate photographs of herself with Humphreys but made clear they were not for distribution elsewhere.

The photos were uploaded on social media and online platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Kik.

Strangers began contacting Ms. Gallagher on Facebook messenger and other platforms telling her they had seen the images online.

One UK-based man thought he had been in an online relationship with Ms. Gallagher for two years.

He had received messages and intimate images from someone he thought was Ms. Gallagher but the person behind the fake profile was Daniel Humphreys. The man had planned to travel to Ireland to meet the person he thought was Ms. Gallagher.

A search warrant was obtained for Humphreys' home. A total of 1,400 photos were discovered on his phone.

Many were regular pictures but there were also intimate, topless photos of the complainant and images which showed the woman’s face superimposed on to other naked bodies.

Humphreys had also created obscene magazine-style covers which depicted Ms. Gallagher topless and featured offensive and derogatory language.

The defendant, who has no previous convictions, was cooperative with gardaí when interviewed in April 2024. He told officers he was motivated by “revenge” following the end of the relationship and wanted Ms. Gallagher to feel some sort of pain.

The court heard he had not seen his biological child since 2019 and believed he was stepfather to Ms. Gallagher’s other child.

In a victim impact statement, Ms. Gallagher said the crimes have had a permanent and long-lasting impact on her life.

Humphreys used her photos to talk to other men online and used “vile, horrible, disgusting” words in a bid to degrade her.

She said she became withdrawn and deleted her social media.“It truly disgusts me that he posted these images of me,” said the injured party.

Ms. Gallagher told the court she received abuse from men she did not know and from people asking for more pictures.

“How could someone who said they once loved me do something so cruel and disgusting?" Ms. Gallagher stated.

“You, Daniel Humphreys, left me feeling insecure, fragile and broken to the point where I did not want to live any more. But I finally see you for the person you are,” Ms. Gallagher concluded.

Defending barrister Diarmuid Connolly said his client is a manager in a local hardware shop. He is in a new relationship and his partner is expecting a baby.

Mr. Connolly said the defendant has a “chronic alcohol” problem and a lot of the images were posted after pub closing times when he was intoxicated.

However, this was not fully accepted by gardaí.

Mr. Connolly said his client had a difficult and dysfunctional childhood which has led to his problems with alcohol. He now recognises the peril he put his victim in and is ashamed of his actions.

Judge Eoin Garavan said the defendant is a “jealous, insecure man who wanted revenge”.

"This was a “long campaign of hatred and vengefulness,” he added.

The judge imposed a four-year prison term, suspending the final year. Humphreys was also ordered not have any communication with his victim for a 10-year period.

“A message must go out that you do not treat an intimate partner in this way,” said Judge Garavan.

(Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme).