Ireland Convicted sex offender jailed after attempting to meet a child arranged online
Paul Lynch (56), formerly of Beauvale Park, Artane, Dublin, and originally from Derry, contacted what he believed was an 11-year-old girl online and sent a picture of his genitals to an adult decoy. An online child protection group livestreamed its confrontation with him on Facebook, and gardaí found him surrounded by a large crowd. Lynch pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child for the purposes of sexual exploitation, a plea the article dates to March 2018, and he has been in custody since February. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Orla Crowe imposed a sentence of two years and three months after mitigation, from a headline sentence of three years, as reported on 15 May 2024.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced15 May
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Paul Lynch (56) was jailed after the court heard he sent a picture of his genitals to an adult decoy.
- Lynch believed he was meeting an 11-year-old girl, but the person he met was an adult decoy.
- Where
- The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
- Lynch was formerly of Beauvale Park, Artane, Dublin, and originally from Derry.
- Cause
- The online chat became sexually explicit, and Lynch asked for a naked photo, which the decoy said she could not send because her phone was broken.
- Investigation
- A child protection awareness group set up a social media profile posing as an 11-year-old girl.
- The group livestreamed its encounter with Lynch on Facebook before confronting him.
- Gardaí were contacted and found Lynch surrounded by a large crowd.
- Other details
- The court heard that Lynch said he came to meet the girl to give her a phone.
- Lynch has a 2019 Northern Ireland conviction for sexual communication with a child, for which he was imprisoned for four months, and a conviction for breaching a sex offences prevention order.
- Lynch has been in custody since February.
- Charges
- Lynch pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child for the purposes of sexual exploitation, a plea the article dates to March 2018.
- In court
- Judge Orla Crowe described the offence as the most serious kind.
- Sentence
- The judge said the case warranted a headline sentence of three years.
- Judge Crowe imposed a sentence of two years and three months after taking mitigation into account.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatPaul Lynch was jailed after the court heard he sent a picture of his genitals to the decoy. (irishtimes.com)
- whatLynch believed he was meeting an 11-year-old girl. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- whereLynch was formerly of Beauvale Park, Artane, Dublin, and originally from Derry. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe chat became sexually explicit and Lynch sent a photograph of his genitals. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA child protection awareness group set up a social media profile posing as an 11-year-old girl. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe group livestreamed on Facebook before confronting Lynch. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí were contacted and found Lynch surrounded by a large crowd. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeLynch pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child for the purposes of sexual exploitation. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Orla Crowe described the offence as the most serious kind. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge said the case warranted a headline sentence of three years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Crowe imposed a sentence of two years and three months after taking mitigation into account. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLynch has a previous conviction from Northern Ireland in 2019 for sexual communication with a child. (irishtimes.com)
- otherLynch has been in custody since February. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 15 May2024Convicted sex offender confronted by online safety group after expecting to meet girl (11)
Sentencing report: Judge Orla Crowe imposed two years and three months after taking mitigation into account from a headline sentence of three years. The article adds details of the online contact, the livestreamed confrontation, and Lynch's previous convictions.
convicted, Paul Lynch, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Lynch