Friday 30 October 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. 14328Encouraging production of child sexual abuse material · Co. Westmeath

Midlands man pleads guilty to encouraging teen girls in US to send sexually explicit material

A man in his early 30s from the midlands, County Westmeath, used a fake Facebook profile to encourage teen girls in the United States, believed to be aged 15 to 18, to send him sexually explicit videos and images between 10 October 2015 and 30 September 2018. Mullingar Garda station was contacted in 2018 by the online child protection unit in Dublin, and analysis of his phone, social media and online activity identified at least four victims, while his laptop and mobile phone contained 700 to 1,000 images and 30 videos of child abuse material. He pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, as reported on 6 March 2025, to encouraging the production of child sexual abuse material under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. He remains on bail and will be sentenced in July, and the judge asked the media not to reveal his name.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 Mar
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man used a fake Facebook profile to encourage teen girls in the United States to make and send him sexually explicit videos and images.
Where
The case was heard at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court in County Westmeath.
When
The offence period ran from 10 October 2015 until 30 September 2018.
Investigation
  • Mullingar Garda station was contacted in 2018 by the online child protection unit in Dublin.
  • Analysis of his phone, social media account and online activity identified at least four victims.
  • Examination of his laptop and mobile phone found 700 to 1,000 images and 30 videos of child abuse material.
Other details
  • The victims were teen girls believed to be between 15 and 18 years old and living in America.
  • The man is in his early 30s and is described as a man from the midlands.
  • The accused cooperated with the investigation.
Charges
He pleaded guilty to encouraging the production of child sexual abuse material under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998, which carries a maximum 14-year sentence.
In court
  • He pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, as reported on 6 March 2025.
  • Judge Keenan Johnson asked the media to exercise discretion and not reveal the man's name, at the defence's request.
  • The man remains on bail.
Sentence
He will be sentenced in July.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man used a fake Facebook profile to encourage teen girls in the United States to make and send him sexually explicit videos and images. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe man appeared before Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe man pleaded guilty to encouraging the production of child sexual abuse material from 10 October 2015 until 30 September 2018. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationMullingar Garda station was contacted in 2018 by the online child protection unit in Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationAt least four victims were identified after his phone, social media account and online activity were analysed. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationExamination of his laptop and mobile phone found 700 to 1,000 images and 30 videos of child abuse material. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe charge is under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998, which carries a maximum 14-year sentence. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe man will be sentenced in July. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe man remains on bail. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe accused cooperated with the investigation. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe victims were believed to be between 15 and 18 years old and in America. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Mar2025
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Man from midlands pleads guilty to encouraging teen girls in US to send him sexually explicit material

    The man pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court and will be sentenced in July. The article gives the offence period, the number of victims and the investigation details. It does not name the accused.

    accused, early 30s, malevictim, 15 to 18, female