Kilkenny politician speaks out as ex-partner, former local councillor, is jailed

Kilkenny politician Kathleen Funchion has spoken of her relief at the conclusion of a court process that has seen her ex-partner jailed.

Former Sinn Fein councillor Sean Tyrrell (pictured below), from Loughboy, was on Monday given a four-month prison sentence, with a separate four-month jail term suspended for two years, for offences under Section 4 of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, known as Coco’s Law.

Tyrrell was co-opted to Kilkenny County Council in March 2016, replacing Ms Funchion who was elected to the Dail. Also working in Ms Funchion’s constituency office, he served on the council for just over three years before losing the seat in the 2019 local elections.

In 2016, the pair began a romantic relationship, and got engaged in December 2017. However, things were far from idyllic. Kilkenny Court heard the relationship was ‘dysfunctional’ and ‘on and off’ for five or six years.

In her victim impact statement, Ms Funchion said Tyrrell persisted in making false allegations of unfaithfulness, accessing her phone without her consent or knowledge, and trying to force her to take a lie detector test. She said Tyrrell had threatened to compromise her relationships with family members, close friends, and to use her job against her.

In the powerful statement, Ms Funchion said it had been ‘without a doubt the most difficult process that I have dealt with in my life’.

“It was a situation of control; he always had to control the narrative and the relationship, and did everything inhis power to continue this until the very end,” she said.

The Sinn Fein MEP described the ‘huge impact’ it had and continued to have on her, recalling being unable to sleep or eat, and of a sick feeling in her stomach. She said it would have an impact on the rest of her life.

“It is something that will stay with me forever — the worry, the upset, and at times to this day, the disbelief of what has happened — will never leave,” she said.

Speaking to the Kilkenny People in the wake of Monday’s sentencing, MEP Funchion said she was relieved it was over.

“I was really delighted, because you never know what’s going to happen in these situations. I really felt listened to, I thought the judge was very fair,” she said.

“I really felt vindicated. I was expecting some level of relief, but I walked out nearly feeling physically lighter. It goes on for a long time, and from the day you walk into the garda station, it’s a long process.”

That day was in August 2022, when then-TD Funchion says she finally accepted things weren’t right.

“Probably, I finally saw it for what it was. And I don’t think I wanted to accept that it was the way things had gone. This was someone, from my point of view, that I was going to spend the rest of my life with. You’re going through the grief of that situation too — not only is it all over, it’s over in a horrific way. Your trust has been broken irreparably.

The Sinn Fein MEP, who won her European seat last year, specifically thanked the Protective Services Unit at Kilkenny Garda station for their support and hard work.

“When I say they were incredible, I don’t have the words to describe how amazing they are. They’re unbelievable,” she said.

Ms Funchion said it has been a difficult few years, and now she can get back to focusing on her life and her busy job.
READ MORE KILKENNY COURT NEWS HERE