A 43-year-old woman who made false allegations of rape and sexual assault against three social workers, a lawyer and a senior garda was sentenced to four years in prison, reports RTE.
Judge Catherine Staines described the victim’s impact statements in the case as the “most harrowing” she had read while sentencing Sonya Egan of The Lawn, Lios Cara, Kileens, in Co Cork, at the Circuit Criminal Court today.
Egan in February pleaded guilty to eight counts of making false statements and six counts of making false reports against six men and three women at different times between 2016 and 2021.
The false statements and reports were made at Bridewell Garda train stations in Dublin and Cork, and at Gort na Tra, Watercourse Road and Anglesea Street train stations in Cork city.
The court was told that Egan, who is currently serving a prison sentence for harassment, has opted not to appear in court in person or on camera.
Lead Defense Counsel Ronan Munro told the court his client is currently on a hunger strike in Limerick Prison.
Investigating Garda detective James Buckley told Judge Staines that Egan employed a strategy of “making false reports and allegations against persons or institutions” when they were doing something to disrupt them, reports RTE.
Egan also reported a Garda sergeant – who has been involved in investigating various complaints filed by Egan over the years – to his superiors, the Attorney General and the GSOC, who accused him of past sexual abuse and threatened to kill her.
The court heard that Egan made multiple trips to Gardaí between 2016 and 2020 to make false allegations about professionals.
Although the content of the victim’s testimony has not been released publicly, Judge Staines said it was the most disturbing testimony she had ever read.
“I cannot begin to understand the harm and devastation caused to these unfortunate, professional people,” she said, reports RTE.
“One victim was accused of rape and sexual abuse. A letter of complaint was sent to his employer, to An Garda Síochána and to the Minister for Health. While formal investigations were taking place, he had to stand aside. His reputation was ruined. It effectively ended his whole career. Ms Egan contacted RTÉ and Prime Time (no programme was ever made) and she also used social media – she was allowed to use social media to disseminate lies about him,” she added, reports RTE.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.