‘It was a traumatic time’ – Cookstown revenge porn woman Lucy Carolan regrets sharing picture of her ex’s new partner
“If I get in the paper you should also mention my ex because in my opinion this is all his fault.”
Lucy Carolan pleaded guilty at Dungannon Magistrates Court last week to pornography revenge charges after sending the image to a third party.
The 25-year-old, from Coolnafranky Park, Cookstown, Co Tyrone, told the Sunday world She “completely regretted” sending the explicit picture.
Carolan said she was “extremely hurt” after her boyfriend got involved with her friend.
She also made another series of claims about her former friend, which we are not publishing because she is a victim of crime.
Lucy Carolan
“I know what I did was wrong and of course I completely regret it, but I was very hurt. I went through a traumatic time about it,” she told the Sunday world.
“I had been with him for four years, but I had been friends with her for much longer… it was terrible.
“The whole thing was traumatic, but I blame my ex.”
She claims she only sent a single picture to a friend of the injured man after finding it on her ex-boyfriend’s Facebook page.
Carolan pleaded guilty to two counts of disclosing a private sexual photograph or film of a woman without her consent and with the intent to torment her on two consecutive days, September 15 and 16, 2022.
While no details of the circumstances of the offense were revealed during the brief hearing, a prosecution lawyer said two previous charges of harassment and misuse of a public communications network by sending an indecent message to the victim had been withdrawn.
During the short court hearing last week, Judge Michael Ranaghan said he believed the case should have been sent to the Crown Court due to the seriousness of the offenses.
He asked at what level of court the case should be heard “given the nature of the charges.”
The prosecutor said it would remain in the lower court, to which the judge replied: “That’s not something I’m particularly happy about.” Although I don’t know anything about the actual facts of the case, the maximum sentence in this court is six months.
“If there are aggravating circumstances, this court’s hands are tied. But the decision has been made and I have no power to refer the matter to a higher court.”
Judge Ranaghan also said the fact the images were sent twice on consecutive days “makes the case even more serious”. I could ask for a review like I’ve done before, but that’s usually pointless so I won’t bother.
“I’ll just deal with the matter at sentencing and whatever I say about it, so be it.”
Lucy Carolan
But in conversation with him Sunday world, Carolan says she believes prosecutors kept the case out of the Crown Court because they were aware of the full circumstances of the case. “I know the judge said it should be in the Crown Court, but he doesn’t know everything that happened before,” she said.
“I don’t think I’ll go to prison, but it was so stressful. Honestly, I can’t believe it ended up in court.
“It was just a picture. My ex was still logged into his Facebook account on my phone and so I have it too. I shouldn’t have done it, but I don’t deserve any of this.
“If I get in the paper you should also mention my ex because in my opinion this is all his fault.”
Carolan has also been charged with assaulting the woman and she says she denies that allegation.
“I certainly didn’t attack her,” she said last night. “I definitely deny that.”
Judge Ranaghan remanded Carolan on bail to return to court on Wednesday when a date is to be set to contest the assault charge.
Lucy Carolan
Last night, that Sunday world contacted Carolan’s ex-boyfriend and he confirmed that the couple were in a relationship.
When he learned of her claims, he said, “I’m not telling you anything. All this nonsense happened over a year ago and I can’t remember half the things I did back then.”
He added: “I look forward to reading about it in the newspaper.”
The targeting of similar cases like this one has been criticized by judges for remaining in the lower court.
The PPS has been asked to comment on the decision in this case and to clarify whether the concerns of various judges in these cases have been fully taken into account.
Lucy Carolan
A spokesman said: “The PPS received an investigation file from police in April 2023 in which an individual was reported in relation to allegations reported to police in October 2022. All available evidence presented by the police was carefully examined by a senior prosecutor.
“The decision to prosecute an individual in the Magistrates Court on two counts of disclosing a private sexual photograph with intent to cause harassment and one count of grievous bodily harm was made in September 2023 after it was found that the evidence of the Prosecution was fulfilled.” Reasons.
“Taking into account all relevant factors, the district court was the appropriate venue for prosecution.”