Cyber psychologist Dr Mary Aiken

Further to 37-year-old Brendan Doolin, of Leighlin Road, Crumlin, Dublin,  being jailed in the Dublin Circuit Criminal yesterday for three years…

After he pleaded guilty to sending hundreds of abusive messages to six female writers and journalists – Sarah Griffin, Kate McEvoy, Sinead O’Carroll, Christine Bohan, Roe McDermott and Aoife Barry – over six years, between May 2012 and February 2018…

And whom the court heard had only left his home twice in the 17 years preceding the Garda investigation into him…

Cyber psychologist Dr Mary Aiken told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland:

“I think it’s [the case] is a major breakthrough, I think it’s a step forward in the real world and a giant step forward in cyber space.

“I think for the first time it’s an example of consequences for these types of behaviour online, these types of behaviour in cyber space.

“The point is that deterrent is a central principle in terms of any criminal justice system and that works on the premise that the threat of punishment will deter people from committing crime and reduce the probability and level of offending in society.

“This case is now showing that there are consequences for the offender’s behaviour and, hopefully, going forward, deterrent as a principle will work.”

Meanwhile, the six women whom Mr Doolan targeted have released a joint statement saying:

“Brendan Doolin’s campaign of harassment against us went on for years.

“We hope this case shows other men and women in this situation that what they say will be taken seriously if they come forward, and that online harassment is harassment and will be treated as such.

“We hope Brendan Doolin receives the help and rehabilitation he needs.

“We’d like to thank Detective Garda Colm Gallagher and his colleagues at the Cyber Crime Unit for their painstaking work on, and sensitive approach to, this case.”

Listen back in full here

Previously: Troll’s Three-Year Toll

Pic: RTÉ/YouTube