Man who followed teenage girl through Mayo car park is remanded on bail by court

A BALLINROBE man who followed a 17-year-old girl through a car park in the south Mayo town has pleaded guilty to public order offences at Castlebar District Court and has been remanded on bail for a probation report.

Martin Sweeney, 12 Lough Mask Road, Ballinrobe, pleaded guilty to charges under Sections 4 and 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act.

Sergeant Fiona Farrell told the court that on May 27, 2025, the teenage victim was followed by Sweeney from Supermacs to Brothers car park and on to the parish centre car park in Ballinrobe.

The girl alerted a female witness, who contacted her mother. Sweeney was heard to say he wanted a woman and was told to leave the area.

When gardaí were called, he told them he wanted to be arrested in order to plead his innocence in court. He was arrested for failing to comply with garda directions.

He has 11 previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Gary Mulchrone told Judge Vincent Deane that Sweeney's previous convictions dated from 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2018, with no recent offending until this matter.

He said Sweeney had difficulties with his mental health and was not engaging with his GP, and that a probation report would be of significant assistance to the court.

Judge Deane noted the guilty plea and adjourned the matter to September 16 for a probation report, remanding Sweeney on continuing bail.

* Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.