Election candidate in court over ‘abusive posts’
Leanne O'Neill
AN UNSUCCESSFUL candidate in both recent local and General Elections has been charged with allegedly sending abusive social medial posts to a county councillor.
Leanne O’Neill (37), with an address at The Heights, Belin Woods, Newbridge, appeared in Naas District Court last week charged with a single count of harassment under Section 4 of the Harassment Act 1989.
Sergeant Ruth Coleman for the state alleged that Ms O’Neill “sent offensive Facebook posts in relation to Covid-19” to a sitting county councillor on dates unknown between 21 December 2024 and 7 April 2025.
“There were several posts abusing (the councillor) and her character,” said the sergeant.
Judge Desmond Zaidan inquired about further details before accepting jurisdiction but was told the details were not on the charge sheets.
The judge opted to adjourn his decision until he heard more.
“Those should be included,” he said, before adjourning the case until 12 February “for direction”.
Ms O’Neill, a nurse, garnered 167 first preference votes in the 2024 local elections, and 152 in the general election last February.
