Thursday 29 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. 6590Sexual exploitation of a child using information technology · Co. Dublin · 24 Dec 2018

Shane Corrigan sentenced over online grooming of decoy profile in Dublin

Between December 24 and 28, 2018, Shane Corrigan (53), a man of Newton Court, Belcamp Lane, Coolock, Dublin, exchanged messages with a fictional 13-year-old decoy in an account set up by a group trying to catch people grooming children. Gardaí obtained a search warrant for his house on December 29, 2018, and he was arrested on September 2, 2022. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to using information technology to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years in prison with the final 20 months suspended, as reported on February 7, 2024, and said he did not consider Corrigan a danger to society.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced7 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Corrigan chatted with a fictional 13-year-old decoy profile set up by a group aiming to catch people grooming children.
  • Corrigan asked the decoy explicit questions, asked it to engage in explicit acts, and proposed meeting at a hotel.
Where
Corrigan lives at Newton Court, Belcamp Lane, Coolock, Dublin.
When
  • The messages with the decoy were exchanged between December 24 and December 28, 2018.
  • Corrigan was arrested on September 2, 2022.
Investigation
  • The group that created the decoy profile contacted gardaí with information about Corrigan.
  • Gardaí obtained a search warrant for Corrigan's house on December 29, 2018, secured his electronic media, and analysis showed no evidence of child pornography.
Charges
Corrigan pleaded guilty to using information technology to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child over four days around Christmas 2018.
In court
The sentencing hearing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Nolan.
Sentence
Corrigan was sentenced to three years in prison with the final 20 months suspended.
Other details
  • In interview, Corrigan agreed the conversation was inappropriate and sexual and expressed regret.
  • Corrigan's defence said he has a mild intellectual disability and lost his job because of the investigation.
  • The judge listed mitigating factors: an early guilty plea, admissions, co-operation, good work history and no previous convictions.
  • The judge said he did not think Corrigan was a danger to society.
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatCorrigan was chatting with a fictional 13-year-old decoy in an account set up by a group aiming to catch people grooming children. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCorrigan asked the decoy explicit questions and to engage in explicit acts. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCorrigan proposed meeting the decoy at a hotel. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereCorrigan lives at Newton Court, Belcamp Lane, Coolock. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe messages with the decoy were exchanged between December 24th and December 28th, 2018. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenCorrigan was arrested on September 2nd, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe group that created the decoy profile contacted gardaí with information about Corrigan. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí obtained a search warrant for Corrigan's house on December 29th, 2018, and secured his electronic media. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationAnalysis of the seized electronic media showed no evidence of child pornography. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeCorrigan pleaded guilty to using information technology to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child over four days around Christmas 2018. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe sentencing hearing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Martin Nolan sentenced Corrigan to three years in prison with the final 20 months suspended. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherIn interview, Corrigan agreed the conversation was inappropriate and sexual and expressed regret. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCorrigan's defence said he has a mild intellectual disability and lost his job because of the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge said he did not think Corrigan was a danger to society. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge listed mitigating factors including an early guilty plea, admissions, co-operation, good work history and no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 7 Feb2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Dublin man jailed for trying to meet fictional 13-year-old girl for sex

    Reports the sentencing of Shane Corrigan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, including his guilty plea, the three-year sentence with 20 months suspended, and the mitigation put forward. No record of this case appears in the existing list.

    convicted, Shane Corrigan, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shane Corrigan