Ireland Suspended sentence for man who threatened to post intimate images of girl unless she met for sex
In August 2022 Stephen Seery, a 22-year-old man, threatened to distribute intimate images of a girl unless she met him for sex, using an Instagram account with an AI-generated name. He had asked the girl for nude pictures and offered her gifts and money. Garda Gemma Prendergast went to the planned meeting in Mullingar posing as the girl, and Seery punched and kicked her when he realised she was a garda. Other gardaí arrested Seery, and he pleaded guilty to an offence under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020. In December 2024 at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Keenan Johnson imposed a three-year suspended sentence, with 240 hours of community service instead of two years and six months for assault causing harm to Garda Prendergast.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced4 Dec
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Stephen Seery threatened to distribute intimate images of a girl unless she met him and had sex with him, and threatened to send them to her followers.
- Seery asked the girl for nude pictures and offered gifts and money, and she sent photos from her gallery.
- Garda Gemma Prendergast went to the meeting place posing as the girl.
- Seery punched the garda when he realised she was not the girl, and kicked her in the head after she identified herself as a garda.
- Where
- The planned meeting was to be at a bridge near the old abandoned train station in Mullingar, County Westmeath.
- When
- The threat was made on 23 August 2022.
- Cause
- Seery operated an Instagram account with an AI-generated name.
- Investigation
- Other gardaí intervened and arrested Seery.
- Charges
- Seery pleaded guilty to an offence under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020.
- In court
- Seery was sentenced at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court in December 2024.
- Sentence
- Judge Keenan Johnson imposed a three-year suspended sentence and 240 hours of community service instead of two years and six months for assault causing harm to Garda Gemma Prendergast.
- Seery must pay each victim €5,000, not reoffend for six years, never contact the victims and continue counselling.
- Seery must remain on an educational course and probation supervision for 18 months.
- Other details
- Seery had no previous convictions.
18 statements extracted from the articles
- whatSeery threatened to distribute intimate images of a girl. (thejournal.ie)
- whatSeery asked the girl for nude pictures and offered gifts and money, and she sent photos from her gallery. (thejournal.ie)
- whatSeery threatened to send the pictures to the victim's followers if she did not meet and have sex with him. (thejournal.ie)
- whatGarda Gemma Prendergast went to the meeting place posing as the victim. (thejournal.ie)
- whatSeery punched the garda when he realised she was not the girl. (thejournal.ie)
- whatSeery kicked the garda in the head after she identified herself as a garda. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe planned meeting was to be at a bridge near the old abandoned train station in Mullingar. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe threat was made on 23 August 2022. (thejournal.ie)
- causeSeery operated an Instagram account with an AI-generated name. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationOther gardaí intervened and arrested Seery. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeSeery pleaded guilty to an offence under the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020. (thejournal.ie)
- courtSeery was sentenced at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceJudge Keenan Johnson imposed a three-year suspended sentence. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceSeery was ordered to do 240 hours of community service instead of a sentence of two years and six months for assault causing harm to Garda Gemma Prendergast. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceSeery must pay each victim €5,000. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceSeery must not reoffend for six years, never contact the victims and continue counselling. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceSeery must remain on an educational course and probation supervision for 18 months. (thejournal.ie)
- otherSeery had no previous convictions. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Dec2024Suspended sentence for man who threatened to post intimate images of girl unless she met for sex
Reports the December 2024 sentencing of Stephen Seery at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court, including the threats to a girl, the assault on Garda Gemma Prendergast, the sentence terms and a later clarification of the order under the Sex Offenders Act.
convicted, Stephen Seery, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Seeryvictim, femalevictim, Gemma Prendergast, female, irish (judged from name)Gemma Prendergast