A Kerry motorist who masturbated while following young women as they walked along streets in Galway City last year, has been remanded on continuing bail for a year to see if he continues to get psychological treatment and behave himself in the interim.

Aidan Clifford (28), 10 Ballyoughtragh Heights, Milltown, Co. Kerry, was first charged before Galway District Court last January with committing two acts, to do with masturbating in a public place, which is offensive to public morals and decency, at Williamsgate Street, Galway, on 20 March last and with committing the same act at Eyre Street, Galway, on 26 July last.

After hearing an outline of the facts this week, Judge Mary Fahy said that while Clifford was from Kerry and had a job in Clare, he travelled to Galway City specifically on his days off work to commit these offences and a more sinister element was the fact that he had followed the women in his car.

Inspector Ernie White told the court a young woman phoned the Gardaí on 26 July last year complaining that she had been followed at Eyre Street, Galway, by a man driving a car and that he had pulled up along side her and masturbated in her view. She gave a description of the accused and the car.

Garda Sean Kelly was sent to investigate and he came across Clifford's car on Williamsgate Street. He stopped the car and spoke to Clifford who admitted the offence. The accused made a statement admitting that he had done this to other women on previous occasions.

Inspector White said Garda Kelly made contact with two other women who had been subjected to the same offences the preceding March and they both made complaints as well.

Defence solicitor, Adrian MacLynn said his client's irrational behaviour stemmed from boyhood problems, which were never addressed.

He said his client was a workaholic and was working himself "to the bone". He said this had the effect of isolating his client socially which led to more emotional problems. He did not seek professional help and became detached and isolated, which brought about his type of behaviour. The solicitor said his client was very sorry for what he did and would not be re-offending as he was continuing to get professional help and was now in a relationship. He confirmed his client used to travel to Galway City on his days off work in Clare.

Clifford told Judge Fahy he was seeing a psychologist every Wednesday now and had been seen by a psychiatrist once.

Judge Fahy said that, while a psychological report handed into court was favourable and stated Clifford was remorseful and had insight that what he was doing was wrong, she did not want to finalise matters for a while as Clifford had been coming to Galway for no other reason than to deliberately commit these offences. She adjourned sentencing for 12 months, to 11 May 2009, and directed that an up-to-date psychological report on Clifford's progress be furnished to the court on that date.

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