Thursday 5 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 31905Sexual exploitation of a child · Co. Louth · 28 Nov 2019

Man sentenced for sexual exploitation of child at Dundalk court

A 33-year-old man was sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Court in November 2026 for sexual exploitation of a 13-year-old girl in County Louth. Between November 28 and December 29, 2019, the man sent messages of a sexual nature to the girl on Snapchat and attempted to arrange to meet her, after she told him she was 13 and he replied she looked about 18. The victim's mother reported the offending to gardaí in December 2019, and the man was arrested in July 2020. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years and nine months, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, making the effective custodial term three years and nine months.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced5 Nov
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The defendant sent messages of a sexual nature to the 13-year-old girl on Snapchat and attempted to arrange to meet her.
  • The victim told the defendant she was 13 and he replied that she looked about 18.
  • The victim's mother took over the girl's Snapchat account and posed as her, during which the defendant sent a photo of his face and a picture of the road the girl lived on.
Where
The offending took place in County Louth.
When
The offending occurred between November 28 and December 29, 2019.
Investigation
The victim's mother reported the offending to gardaí on December 27, 2019, and the man was arrested on July 15, 2020.
Charges
The man pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child.
In court
The case was heard at Dundalk Circuit Court.
Sentence
He was sentenced to four years and nine months with the final 12 months suspended for two years, making the effective custodial term three years and nine months.
Other details
  • The defendant denied sending messages and claimed he had only sent pictures.
  • The defendant has nine previous convictions for possession of drugs, road traffic and public order offences.
  • A probation officer assessed the defendant as high risk of sexual reoffending and medium risk of non-sexual reoffending.
  • The prosecutor said the child had a breakdown after making her statement.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe defendant sent messages of a sexual nature to the 13-year-old girl on Snapchat and made attempts to arrange to meet her. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe victim told the defendant she was 13 and he replied that she looked about 18. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe victim's mother took over her Snapchat account and posed as her during the exchange. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe defendant sent a photo of his face during the exchange with the victim's mother posing as the girl. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe victim said she felt the defendant was watching her when he sent a picture of the road she lived on. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whatThe victim said she cannot go out on her own, cannot be alone with men, and gets taxis everywhere. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationThe victim's mother reported the offending to gardaí on December 27, 2019. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationThe man was arrested on July 15, 2020. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • chargeThe man pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child between November 28 and December 29, 2019. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to four years and nine months with the final 12 months suspended for two years, making the effective custodial term three years and nine months. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant denied sending messages and claimed he had only sent pictures. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant has nine previous convictions for possession of drugs, road traffic and public order offences. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant was working as a chef in a pub in County Meath and living in emergency accommodation. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant consented to his remand in custody on June 19, 2026. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant had been homeless for seven years when alcohol and cocaine were part of his lifestyle. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant was asked to leave school in Drogheda at 15 over non-attendance. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant got rented accommodation in County Kildare for two years before returning to County Louth. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe defendant is now drug-free for the first time since the age of 14. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherA probation officer assessed the defendant as high risk of sexual reoffending and medium risk of non-sexual re-offending. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe prosecutor said the child had a breakdown after making her statement. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 5 Nov2026
    Sentenceddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Man who tried to meet 13-year-old girl through Snapchat jailed at Dundalk copurt

    Reports the sentencing at Dundalk Circuit Court, including the victim impact statement, the defendant's background, and the conditions of the suspended portion of the sentence.

    victim, 13, femaleconvicted, 33, male