Ireland Garda warning issued over blackmail of man in Limerick
A married man in his 60s in Limerick was blackmailed after sharing intimate photographs with a woman he had met only online. He was threatened that the images would be sent to all his phone contacts, including his wife and two daughters, and paid €500 to the woman. After the payment, he was bombarded with further demands for money. The man contacted Limerick gardai for advice but declined to make a formal complaint, and no arrests have been made. Sergeant Ber Leetch, crime prevention officer for the Limerick division, issued a public warning about sharing intimate photographs online in October 2021.
- Reported20 Oct
2 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A married man in his 60s started an online relationship with a woman they never met in person and was asked to send intimate photographs of himself.
- He was threatened that the images would be sent to all his phone contacts and social media accounts, including his wife and two daughters.
- He paid €500 to the woman but was subsequently bombarded with texts, emails and phone calls demanding more money.
- Where
- The incident took place in Limerick.
- When
- The man contacted gardai over the summer of 2021 and the public warning was issued in October 2021.
- Investigation
- The man declined to make a formal complaint to gardai but sought advice.
- Other details
- No arrests or charges have been reported.
- Sergeant Ber Leetch, crime prevention officer for the Limerick division, issued a public warning about sharing intimate photographs online.
- The man has reported no further contact from the scammers.
- Sgt Leetch told the man he was an injured party under Cocos Law.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatLimerick gardai issued a warning about sharing intimate photographs online after being alerted to an incident involving a married man who was blackmailed. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe victim was a very distressed man in his sixties. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe man started an online relationship with a woman that developed quickly without them meeting in person. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe man was asked to send intimate photos of himself and complied. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatHe was told the photos would be sent to all contacts on his phone including Facebook and Instagram. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatHis wife and two daughters were contacts on his phone. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe man paid €500 to the blackmailers. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatAfter paying, he was bombarded with texts, emails and phone calls demanding more money. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe man is in his 60s, married, and has two daughters (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe started an online relationship with a woman they never met in person (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe shared intimate pictures of himself at the woman's request (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was threatened that the images would be sent to all his phone contacts and social media accounts (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe sent €500 to the scammer (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was subsequently bombarded with messages demanding more money (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe man declined to make a formal complaint to gardai but sought advice. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe man did not make a formal complaint to gardai but contacted them to ask for advice (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSgt Leetch told the man he was an injured party under Cocos Law. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe man has since reported no further contact from the criminals. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherSergeant Ber Leetch, crime prevention officer for the Limerick division, highlighted the incident to the Limerick Leader (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man has had no further contact from the scammers (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Oct2021Garda warning as married man 'blackmailed after sharing intimate photos online'
Garda warning issued by Sergeant Ber Leetch, crime prevention officer for the Limerick division, after the man contacted them for advice; no formal complaint was made and no arrests were reported.
victim, 60s, malesuspect, female - 20 Oct2021Limerick gardai issue warning after married man shares intimate photos online
Garda warning issued after a married man in his 60s was blackmailed following an online relationship; he paid €500 and was then asked for more but declined to make a formal complaint.
victim, 60s, malesuspect, female