A man has appeared in court charged in connection with the alleged sharing of false information on social media relating to an international protection applicant.
Kirk Loco (44), with an address at Waverly Meadow, Rathnew, Co Wicklow, appeared before Judge David Kennedy at Bray District Court on Monday morning.
He is charged with distributing or publishing a “threatening or grossly offensive communication” with “intent to cause harm”. The alleged offence is contrary to the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020.
Mr Loco was arrested early on Monday morning and brought to Bray Garda station where the charge was put to him before he appeared in court. He was granted bail and is scheduled to appear at Bray District Court again on December 8th next.
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The social media content at the centre of the case was allegedly shared in June 2024. It included a photograph of a man asleep on a bus travelling to Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow.
The post claimed the man was a migrant and had exposed himself to women and girls on the bus journey before falling asleep.
It was claimed the man depicted in the photograph was an international protection applicant living in Trudder House on the outskirts of the town.
