Man Charged Over False Social Media Allegations Due in Court Today
A reminder that online misinformation has serious legal consequences and can cause real harm.
A man in his 40s is scheduled to appear before Bray District Court this morning following charges related to creating and spreading false allegations on social media, in a case that highlights the serious legal consequences of online misinformation.
The accused was arrested earlier today, Monday 3 November 2025, by An Garda Síochána as part of an investigation that began in June 2024. He is due to appear before Bray District Court at approximately 10:30am.
The investigation commenced after an image of a man travelling on a bus in Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow, was circulated online alongside claims that he was behaving inappropriately towards a minor. Garda inquiries subsequently established that the allegation was completely unfounded and false.
The publication of the false allegation caused serious anxiety and concern to the individual depicted in the image, whilst also creating alarm within the local community regarding public safety.
The accused was previously arrested in October 2024 during an operation that saw Gardaí search a residential property in south Wicklow. Several mobile phones and electronic devices were seized during that search. He was initially released without charge whilst a file was prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The charge relates to an alleged offence under Section 12(a) of the Criminal Law Act, 1976. Investigations remain ongoing.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the legal responsibilities that come with sharing information on social media platforms. In Cork, where platforms like Cork Safety Alerts reach hundreds of thousands of people daily, the importance of verifying information before sharing cannot be overstated. False allegations can spread rapidly across communities, causing real harm to individuals whilst undermining public trust in legitimate sources of local news and safety information.
The serious nature of the charges demonstrates An Garda Síochána's commitment to prosecuting those who deliberately create and spread false information online, particularly when such actions cause distress to individuals or create public alarm.
