Man arrested over alleged stalking of Mayo politician

A man has been arrested on suspicion of stalking Mayo Fianna Fáíl Senator Lisa Chambers.

According to a report in the Irish Independent, the man in his 20s was arrested after being found hiding outside a house in a rural area near Castlebar.

Gardaí described the incident, which happened two weeks ago, as “sinister and disturbing”, a source told the newspaper.

The Irish Independent report outlined: "It is understood the man attended an event at which the politician was speaking in a different county in the days before the incident and engaged her in conversation afterwards.

"Days later, she was visiting a residence when the suspect was spotted in the bushes outside.

"Gardaí were called and he was removed from the area.

"It was established that he took a bus to Castlebar and walked several kilometres to the house in the belief it was her home."

A statement issued by An Garda Siochána on the matter outlined: “Gardaí in the Mayo/Longford/­Roscommon Division investigating a complaint made by a public representative in the west of the country arrested a male in his 20s this week for an alleged offence.

“He was subsequently released without charge and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“An Garda Síochána continue to keep the public representative fully informed as to the progress of this investigation."

Senator Chambers declined to comment on the matter - but a source close to her said she found the incident deeply distressing, but has continued with her commitments.

The Castlebar-based representative was central to the introduction of stalking as a standalone criminal offence after drafting legislation that was signed into law last November.