TANAISTE'S FURY AS ONLINE THREATS WOMAN IS JAILED

I don't know you. I would never wish you ill - but you violated our family...

- BY TOM TUITE and MICHAEL O'TOOLE

A WOMAN has received a six-month prison sentence for sending social media messages to Tanaiste Simon Harris, branding him a "murderer" and saying "I hope somebody does something to your family".

"Distraught" Sandra Barry, 40, broke down when her case was heard at Dublin District Court yesterday and her messages were described as having occurred during "three minutes of madness".

But Mr Harris told her in a victim impact statement that he felt her messages had genuinely endangered his family.

The Tanaiste told her: "When you decided to threaten my child, you violated our family. I don't know you. I don't know anything about you.

"I would never wish you any ill. Sadly you didn't afford the same respect to my family."

Barry's solicitor, Tracy Horan, told Judge Michele Finan her client was pleading guilty.

The charge stated that on August 30, 2025, at her home address, she sent "a threatening or grossly offensive communication to Simon Harris with intent to cause harm".

The charge falls under the 2020 Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act. Mr Harris did not attend due to the guilty plea.

Sentencing, Judge Finan said: "These crimes are committed behind closed doors and in the comfort of people's homes and yet they have such huge and very catastrophic impact on the individuals who are the recipients." She added that she had to impose a custodial sentence. Barry, from Tor an Ri, Balgaddy, Lucan, Dublin, was charged after a Garda Special Detective Unit investigation.

After sentencing, the mother of one was released on €200 appeal bail, and the defence said the case would be fully contested before the appeals judge in the Circuit Court. A date has yet to be set.

In evidence, Detective Garda Richard Markey said the injured party received messages on his Instagram account on August 31.