BRIAN FLYNN FROM CO MAYO FOUND GUILTY OF EVIL TEXT MESSAGE BULLYING IN WESTPORT

In December 2012, a disturbing case of prolonged harassment and malicious bullying was brought before Westport Children’s Court involving Brian Flynn, a 27-year-old man from Lanmore Liscarney, Westport, Co Mayo. Flynn was found guilty of subjecting a 14-year-old boy to months of relentless abuse through text messages, a campaign described by the presiding judge, Mary Devins, as both "malicious and evil."

Flynn’s actions spanned from November 2011 to August 2012, during which time the young victim endured an onslaught of up to 500 text messages. These messages contained a mixture of abusive language, threats, and sexually explicit content. The messages repeatedly demeaned the teenager by calling him a "gay boy," and included derogatory terms such as "f***ing bitch." Additionally, Flynn issued threats implying that a group of people would "teach you a lesson," further escalating the victim’s distress.

Compounding the harassment, Flynn also sent messages to local residents in the Westport area, falsely claiming they were from the young victim and signing off as if he were the teenager himself. These false messages led to the victim being physically assaulted by several individuals, adding a dangerous and violent dimension to Flynn’s malicious campaign.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Flynn’s motivation for the harassment appeared to be inexplicable, as he had no clear reason for targeting the young boy. Flynn expressed remorse during the hearing, offering a heartfelt apology to the victim and his family. "I just can’t apologise enough. It will be with me for the rest of my life. I know I’ve caused so much trouble to someone so young and it tears me up to know I’ve done it and I’ll never be able to put it right," Flynn stated.

Investigations showed that Flynn conducted his abusive campaign using a single mobile phone and five SIM cards, all of which were unregistered and ready for use. The victim’s parents took the teenager’s phone to Gardaí in December 2011 after noticing suspicious activity. Authorities then monitored the messages and collaborated with Vodafone and the Garda Crime and Security branch to trace the source of the abuse.

Gardaí tracked Flynn’s phone activity, including when it was topped up, and obtained CCTV footage of Flynn purchasing top-up cards from local service stations. The breakthrough came when Sgt Pat Lavelle of Westport Garda Station downloaded this footage, leading to Flynn’s arrest on August 24 of the same year.

Further details revealed that Flynn’s harassment began shortly after his own phone went missing. It was later discovered that Flynn used his phone to hack into the victim’s Facebook account, although the teenager was not involved in this incident. Flynn admitted that his actions stemmed from personal issues that had built up over the years, and he sought a distraction to cope with his problems.

Since his arrest, Flynn has faced significant consequences. He has lost his job, now lives with his parents, and no longer possesses a mobile phone, SIM card, or computer. He is currently undergoing treatment and has been referred to a psychiatrist. The court has adjourned sentencing until February, pending the results of a psychiatric report, as Judge Devins emphasized the seriousness of the case and the need for appropriate assessment.