"Former Fianna Fáil Councillor's Disturbing Pursuit of Waitress Unveiled in Courtroom Drama"

In a courtroom drama that unfolded at Cork District Court, the unsettling narrative of a young waitress's harassment by a former Fianna Fáil councillor, Joseph O’Donovan, formerly known as Gary O’Flynn, came to light. The court heard harrowing details of how O’Donovan, aged 50, had harassed the waitress on three separate occasions in late July and early August of 2022, leaving her feeling unsafe and violated.

The incidents began on July 30th, 2022, when O’Donovan entered a restaurant in Cork city centre and remained there for two hours, consuming wine. During his stay, he singled out a 25-year-old waitress, lavishing her with unwanted attention by declaring her the "nicest and prettiest girl" he had ever seen, and kissing her hand—a gesture he claimed was inspired by cinematic portrayals of chivalry. However, for the young waitress, this was anything but romantic. Sgt John Kelleher recounted how O’Donovan's persistent gaze and insistence on being served by her made her deeply uneasy.

O’Donovan's behavior escalated as he attempted to obtain her phone number under the guise of offering a tip, whispering into her ear, "Meet me outside for a tip and I better get your phone number for it." His persistence did not wane as he moved outside to stare through the restaurant window, prompting the waitress to confront him and ask him to leave.

Despite being asked to leave by the restaurant management, O’Donovan returned on August 6th, 2022, just before closing time. This time, he offered an apology, claiming he "couldn't help it." His arrest later that month led to a courtroom revelation of his past, which included 26 convictions, the most serious being a solicitation to murder three individuals, including a Garda Siochana, for which he served a five-year sentence.

The waitress, opting to deliver her own victim impact statement, painted a vivid picture of the fear and anxiety that haunted her long after the incidents. "For three years I have never stopped looking over my shoulder when I heard steps behind me," she recounted, describing how O’Donovan had laughed while calling himself a "creep" and a "stalker." Her testimony underscored the deliberateness of his actions, highlighting how he disregarded her boundaries, throwing money around as if it justified his behavior.

Judge Mary Dorgan, presiding over the case, commended the young woman for her courage in sharing her story. Meanwhile, O’Donovan's defense solicitor, Frank Buttimer, argued that his client was remorseful and suffering from an "over reliance on alcohol" at the time. He noted O’Donovan's history of depression, anxiety, and being on the autistic spectrum, suggesting these factors contributed to his actions.

The case's complexity is further compounded by O’Donovan’s political lineage. As the son of former TD Noel O’Flynn, who served in Cork North Central from 1997 until his retirement in 2011, and a former councillor himself, O’Donovan’s fall from grace is stark. His political career, which began by taking over his father’s council seat in 2003, ended in 2008, only for his brother Ken to later secure a seat as an Independent Ireland TD in Cork North Central. Noel O’Flynn has since taken up the city council seat vacated by his son Ken.

As the court awaits sentencing, which was scheduled for June 27th but has been adjourned, the case remains a poignant reminder of the impact of harassment and the courage required to stand against it.