Latest news with #MarkMcAnaw
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Irish Times
Rapist who harassed three women journalists is to spend longer in prison
A convicted rapist handed an 11-year sentence last month for harassing three journalists has been told he will spend an extra 10 months in prison. Mark McAnaw (53), previously of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday for breaching the conditions of a suspended sentence. He pleaded guilty last month to harassing three journalists – Nicola Tallant, Amanda Brunker and Deirdre Reynolds – in August 2023. At that time McAnaw was under the suspended portion of a sentence for an aggravated burglary committed in 2018. READ MORE In June 2023 McAnaw received a sentence of eight years and four months, backdated to when he went into custody in 2018, for the aggravated burglary. The final 16 months of the sentence was suspended for 16 years on strict conditions. He was released from custody on that sentence in July 2023, several weeks before the harassment of the three journalists took place. On Friday he was before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a hearing in relation to the activation of the suspended portion of the sentence for aggravated burglary. Judge Martin Nolan was told the application to reactivate the suspended portion of the sentence had been triggered by McAnaw breaching the conditions of the suspension. These were his convictions for the harassment of the three journalists and a separate District Court conviction for a breach of the Sex Offenders' Act. Rebecca Smith, defending McAnaw, said her client was homeless following his release from custody and had struggled to access medication he had been on. McAnaw also found it difficult to abide by the conditions imposed, she said. The judge said he could activate none, all or part of the suspended portion of the 2023 sentence, which would run consecutive to the 11-year sentence imposed on McAnaw last month. He said McAnaw had committed 'rather serious offences' following his release from custody in 2023, which had already been dealt with by another judge. Judge Nolan reactivated 10 months of the 16 months suspended portion of the 2023 sentence and directed it to run consecutively to the 11-year sentence McAnaw is serving. Last month Judge Pauline Codd handed McAnaw an 11-year sentence for the harassment of Ms Tallant, Ms Brunker and Ms Reynolds. The court heard McAnaw repeatedly sent the three women emails and messages of a violent and sexually threatening nature, which escalated to him threatening to put a 'bullet' in one of them. He also referred to himself as an 'IRA Top Boy'. He also turned up at the offices of the Sunday World on Talbot Street, Dublin, and when refused entry he went to a cafe across the road. When gardaí approached him there, McAnaw was writing an email to Ms Tallant. McAnaw is detained at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH), but does not accept his diagnosis of schizophrenia and has declined to take medication, the court was told. His previous convictions include rape, kidnapping and assaults causing actual bodily harm. McAnaw refused to enter a bond before the court last month, which would have suspended the final 12 months of the 11-year sentence imposed.
Sunday World
5 days ago
- Sunday World
Convicted rapist who harassed three Sunday World journalists gets more jail time
Mark McAnaw (53), previously of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was today before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for breaching the conditions of a suspended sentence. A convicted rapist handed an 11-year sentence last month for harassing three female journalists has been told he will spend an extra ten months in prison. Mark McAnaw (53), previously of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was today before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for breaching the conditions of a suspended sentence. He pleaded guilty last month to harassing three female journalists in August 2023. At that time, McAnaw was under the suspended portion of a sentence for an aggravated burglary, committed in 2018. Amanda Brunker and Deirdre Reynolds McAnaw received a sentence of eight years and four months, backdated to when he went into custody in 2018, for the aggravated burglary. The final 16 month of this sentence was suspended for 16 years on strict conditions. McAnaw was released from custody on this sentence in July 2023, several weeks before the harassment of the three journalists took place. Mark McAnaw News in 90 Seconds - July 11th He was before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today for a hearing in relation to the activation of the suspended portion of the 2023 sentence. Judge Martin Nolan was told that the application to re-activate the suspended portion of the sentence had been triggered by McAnaw breaching the conditions of the suspension. These were his convictions for the harassment of the three journalists and a separate District Court conviction for a breach of the Sex Offenders' Act. Rebecca Smith BL, defending McAnaw, said her client was homeless following his release from custody and struggled to access medication he had been on. McAnaw also found it difficult to abide by the conditions imposed, counsel said. The judge noted he could activate none, all or part of the suspended portion of the 2023 sentence, which would run consecutive to the 11-year sentence imposed on McAnaw last month. Judge Nolan said McAnaw had committed 'rather serious offences' following his release from custody in 2023, which had already been dealt with by another judge. Having considered the totality principle, Judge Nolan reactivated 10 months of the 16 months suspended portion of the 2023 sentence and directed it to run consecutively to the 11-year sentence McAnaw is currently serving. Last month, Judge Pauline Codd handed McAnaw an 11-year sentence for the harassment of Nicola Tallant, Amanda Brunker and Deirdre Reynolds. The court heard McAnaw repeatedly sent the three women emails and messages of a violent and sexually threatening nature, which escalated to him threatening to put a 'bullet' in one of them. He also referred to himself as an 'IRA Top Boy'. He also turned up at the offices of the Sunday World on Talbot Street and, when refused entry, he went to a cafe across the road. When gardai approached him there, McAnaw was in the process of writing an email to Ms Tallant. McAnaw is currently detained in the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). McAnaw does not accept his diagnosis of schizophrenia and has declined to take medication, the court was told. His previous convictions include rape, kidnapping and for assaults causing actual bodily harm from a court in Northern Ireland. McAnaw refused to enter a bond before the court last month, which would have suspended the final 12 months of the 11-year sentence imposed. After imposing the 11-year sentence, Judge Codd ordered that McAnaw should have no contact either directly or indirectly with the women, should not approach them, go within 10 miles of their homes and workplaces or communicate with them for life.
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- RTÉ News
Man given 10 more months for breach of suspended sentence
A man who was handed an 11-year sentence last month for harassing three female journalists has been told he will spend an extra ten months in prison. Mark McAnaw, 53, previously of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, was before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for breaching the conditions of a suspended sentence. He pleaded guilty last month to harassing three female journalists in August 2023. At that time, McAnaw was under the suspended portion of a sentence for an aggravated burglary, committed in 2018. He received a sentence of eight years and four months, backdated to when he went into custody in 2018, for the aggravated burglary. The final 16 months of this sentence was suspended for 16 years on strict conditions. McAnaw was released from custody on this sentence in July 2023, several weeks before the harassment of the three journalists took place. He was before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a hearing in relation to the activation of the suspended portion of the 2023 sentence. Mark McAnaw has previous convictions for rape, kidnapping and assaults causing actual bodily harm Judge Martin Nolan was told that the application to re-activate the suspended portion of the sentence had been triggered by McAnaw breaching the conditions of the suspension. These were his convictions for the harassment of the three journalists and a separate District Court conviction for a breach of the Sex Offenders' Act. Rebecca Smith BL, defending McAnaw, said her client was homeless following his release from custody and struggled to access medication he had been on. McAnaw also found it difficult to abide by the conditions imposed, counsel said. The judge noted he could activate none, all or part of the suspended portion of the 2023 sentence, which would run consecutive to the 11-year sentence imposed on McAnaw last month. Judge Nolan said McAnaw had committed "rather serious offences" following his release from custody in 2023, which had already been dealt with by another judge. Having considered the totality principle, Judge Nolan reactivated 10 months of the 16 months suspended portion of the 2023 sentence and directed it to run consecutively to the 11-year sentence McAnaw is currently serving. Harassment of female journalists Last month, Judge Pauline Codd handed McAnaw an 11-year sentence for the harassment of Nicola Tallant, Amanda Brunker and Deirdre Reynolds. The court heard McAnaw repeatedly sent the three women emails and messages of a violent and sexually threatening nature, which escalated to him threatening to put a "bullet" in one of them. He also referred to himself as an "IRA Top Boy". McAnaw turned up at the offices of the Sunday World on Talbot Street and, when refused entry, he went to a cafe across the road. When gardaí approached him there, he was in the process of writing an email to Ms Tallant. McAnaw is currently detained in the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). He does not accept his diagnosis of schizophrenia and has declined to take medication, the court was told. His previous convictions include rape, kidnapping and for assaults causing actual bodily harm from a court in Northern Ireland. McAnaw refused to enter a bond before the court last month, which would have suspended the final 12 months of the 11-year sentence imposed. After imposing the 11-year sentence, Judge Codd ordered that McAnaw should have no contact either directly or indirectly with the women, should not approach them, go within 10 miles of their homes and workplaces or communicate with them for life. Read more: Man who harassed female journalists jailed for 11 years
Sunday World
05-06-2025
- Sunday World
Convicted rapist who harassed three Sunday World journalists jailed
Mark McAnaw, previously of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, pleaded guilty to the harassment of Ms Tallant, Ms Brunker and Ms Reynolds on various dates in August 2023. Amanda Brunker and Deirdre Reynolds speaking to media following the sentence hearing of Mark McAnaw in the circuit court in Dublin. Photo: Collins Courts A convicted rapist who threatened and harassed three female Sunday World journalists has been jailed for 11 years. Mark McAnaw (53) refused to enter a bond before a sitting of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court which would have suspended the final 12 months of the 11-year sentence imposed for the harassment of Nicola Tallant, Amanda Brunker and Deirdre Reynolds. After Judge Pauline Codd had outlined the conditions attached to the suspended portion of the sentence today, McAnaw's counsel Rebecca Smith BL said her client did not wish to enter the bond as he found the conditions 'onerous'. As a result, the judge imposed the full 11-year sentence. Judge Codd also ordered that McAnaw should have no contact either directly or indirectly with the women, should not approach them, go within 10 miles of their homes and workplaces or communicate with them for life. McAnaw, previously of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, pleaded guilty to the harassment of Ms Tallant, Ms Brunker and Ms Reynolds on various dates in August 2023. Amanda Brunker and Deirdre Reynolds speaking to media following the sentence hearing of Mark McAnaw in the circuit court in Dublin. Photo: Collins Courts The court heard McAnaw repeatedly sent the three women emails and messages of a violent and sexually threatening nature, which escalated to him threatening to put a 'bullet' in Ms Reynolds. He also referred to himself as an 'IRA Top Boy'. He also turned up at the offices of the Sunday World on Talbot Street and, when refused entry, he went to a cafe across the road. When gardai approached him there, McAnaw was in the process of writing an email to Ms Tallant. McAnaw is currently detained in the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). McAnaw does not accept his diagnosis of schizophrenia and has declined to take medication, the court was told. His previous convictions include the rape of a foreign student in Donegal in October 2010, for which he was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2012. McAnaw also has a 1989 conviction for kidnapping and convictions for assaults causing actual bodily harm from a court in Northern Ireland in 2011. He also has a conviction for aggravated assault after attacking a woman in her home in April 2018, for which he received a sentence of eight years and four months in June 2023. This sentence was backdated to 2018 when he went into custody, with the final 16 months suspended for 16 years on strict conditions. McAnaw was released from custody on this sentence in July 2023 – one month before the harassment of the three journalists took place. Mark McAnaw News in 90 Seconds - 5th June 2025 Ms Smith said her client instructs that he found it difficult to abide by the conditions attached to the suspended portion of the sentence imposed in 2023. A handwritten letter from McAnaw was also handed to the court, which Judge Codd described as 'concerning'. Judge Codd noted that social media and online communication makes it easier to target journalists and others in public facing roles. The judge noted women in the public eye are often targeted online and subjected to 'base and lewd threats and comments', which accelerated with the advent of social media. Judge Codd said it is important that 'in a democracy, free speech and freedom of press must be rightly defended' and an aggravating feature of the case was the targeting of female journalists with 'threats of a highly graphic nature'. The judge said general deterrence was necessary and that the 'message goes out' that there are criminal laws which can and will be enforced. She said it was aggravating that McAnaw harassed the women in the context of their work, which potentially impacted their constitutional rights to earn a living and bodily integrity. Judge Codd said the court also had to consider the issue of protection of the public, given McAnaw's history of violent offending, the evidence of his failure to follow medical advice and his consumption of illicit substances, including cannabis. The judge said the need to protect the public 'can't be an end in itself', adding that preventative detention is not permitted by law in Ireland. But Judge Codd said the protection of society was a factor alongside other sentencing principles that the court could have regard to when constructing a proportionate sentence. She added that the fact that 'an offender is a danger to public, which is borne out by evidence, can justify a sentence towards the higher end of the scale'. The judge noted McAnaw's mental health difficulties and that he declines to take anti-psychotic medication 'reserved for most serious cases of schizophrenia'. The judge said McAnaw also has a history of substance misuse and inconsistent past engagement with community mental health services. The judge said McAnaw is assessed at high risk of violent and sexual re-offending. She said the court would give no discount on the headline sentence for his mental health issues, as he had contributed to them by declining to follow medical advice and by taking illicit substances. Judge Codd said the escalating nature of the messages sent was aggravating and, in relation to Ms Reynolds, these included a threat to kill. The judge said while the offences occurred over a short period of time, this had less weight due to McAnaw's status as a violent offender, which would have exacerbated the concern felt by the injured parties. Judge Codd noted the mitigation including McAnaw's guilty pleas and his background. She outlined a global sentence of 11 years, with the final 12 months to be suspended on strict conditions for five years. These included that McAnaw remain under probation supervision for five years, comply with his medical regime, refrain from the use of illicit substances and make available any internet-enabled devices when requested by gardai. The judge backdated the sentence to August 2023, when McAnaw went into custody. Ms Brunker and Ms Reynolds were both present in court when the sentence was imposed. Probation and forensic psychological reports were handed to the court. Ms Smith told the court her client does not accept the diagnosis of a mental illness and has remained drug-free since entering the CMH in October 2023. Judge Codd commended the three women for their resilience and courage throughout the process and wished them well for the future. She directed McAnaw to appear at a sitting of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court later this month in relation to the breach of conditions imposed as part of a suspended sentence.
Irish Times
05-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Rapist who threatened three Sunday World journalists jailed for 11 years
A convicted rapist who threatened and harassed three female Sunday World journalists has been jailed for 11 years. Mark McAnaw (53) refused to enter a bond before a sitting of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court which would have suspended the final 12 months of the 11-year sentence imposed for the harassment of Nicola Tallant, Amanda Brunker and Deirdre Reynolds. After Judge Pauline Codd had outlined the conditions attached to the suspended portion of the sentence on Thursday, McAnaw's counsel Rebecca Smith said her client did not wish to enter the bond as he found the conditions 'onerous'. As a result, the judge imposed the full 11-year sentence. Judge Codd also ordered that McAnaw should have no contact either directly or indirectly with the women, should not approach them, go within 10 miles of their homes and workplaces or communicate with them for life. READ MORE McAnaw, previously of Letterkenny, Co Donegal, pleaded guilty to the harassment of the three women on various dates in August 2023. The court heard McAnaw repeatedly sent them emails and messages of a violent and sexually threatening nature, which escalated to him threatening to put a 'bullet' in one of them. He also referred to himself as an 'IRA Top Boy'. He also turned up at the offices of the Sunday World on Talbot Street in Dublin and, when refused entry, he went to a cafe across the road. When gardaí approached him there, McAnaw was in the process of writing an email to Ms Tallant. McAnaw is detained in the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). McAnaw does not accept his diagnosis of schizophrenia and has declined to take medication, the court was told. His previous convictions include the rape of a foreign student in Donegal in October 2010, for which he was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2012. McAnaw also has a 1989 conviction for kidnapping and convictions for assaults causing actual bodily harm from a court in Northern Ireland in 2011. He also has a conviction for aggravated assault after attacking a woman in her home in April 2018, for which he received a sentence of eight years and four months in June 2023. This sentence was backdated to 2018 when he went into custody, with the final 16 months suspended for 16 years on strict conditions. McAnaw was released from custody on this sentence in July 2023 – one month before the harassment of the three journalists took place. Ms Smith said her client instructs that he found it difficult to abide by the conditions attached to the suspended portion of the sentence imposed in 2023. A handwritten letter from McAnaw was also handed to the court, which Judge Codd described as 'concerning'. Judge Codd outlined a global sentence of 11 years, with the final 12 months to be suspended on strict conditions for five years. These included that McAnaw remain under probation supervision for five years, comply with his medical regime, refrain from the use of illicit substances and make available any internet-enabled devices when requested by gardaí. The judge backdated the sentence to August 2023, when McAnaw went into custody. Ms Brunker and Ms Reynolds were present in court when the sentence was imposed. Judge Codd commended the three women for their resilience and courage throughout the process and wished them well for the future.
