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. 14789Possession of child pornography · Co. Dublin

Teen spared sentence over filming girls undressed at National Aquatic Centre

A 17-year-old man, who was 14 at the time, is reported to have used his phone to film young girls undressed in a changing area at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin in 2022. The girls were aged five and nine. In September 2023 he gave a statement of admission during interview after his phone was seized and examined. He pleaded guilty to two offences under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, and at Dublin Children's Court Judge Paul Kelly applied the Probation of Offenders Act, sparing him a custodial sentence and a recorded conviction, as reported on 28 January 2025.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced28 Jan
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The girls filmed were aged five and nine, and breast and genital areas were visible in the video.
  • One of the girls was not identified.
Where
  • The man used his phone to film girls undressed in a changing area at the National Aquatic Centre.
  • The facts place the centre in Blanchardstown, while a photo caption places it in Abbotstown, Dublin.
When
The offences took place in 2022, when he was 14.
Investigation
  • The seized phone had to be technically examined.
  • He gave a statement of admission during interview in September 2023.
Charges
  • He pleaded guilty to two offences under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act.
  • The offences involved knowingly possessing two videos on his mobile phone.
In court
The sentence hearing was held at Dublin Children's Court before Judge Paul Kelly.
Sentence
  • The judge applied the Probation of Offenders Act, so he was spared a custodial sentence and a recorded conviction.
  • The judge ordered a letter of apology he had written to be forwarded to the victim.
Other details
  • The probation report placed him at low risk of reoffending.
  • He had no prior convictions and cooperated fully with the Garda investigation.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe girls filmed were aged five and nine. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatBreast and vagina areas of the girls were visible in the video. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe teen used his phone to film young girls undressed in a changing area at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe offences took place at the centre in Blanchardstown. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place in 2022 when he was 14. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenHe was aged 14 at the time of the offences. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe phone seized had to be technically examined. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe teen gave a statement of admission during his interview in September 2023. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to two offences under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe offences involved knowingly possessing two videos on his mobile phone. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe sentence hearing was held at the Dublin Children's Court before Judge Paul Kelly. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceHe was spared a custodial sentence and a criminal record. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge applied the Probation of Offenders Act, sparing him a recorded conviction. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherOne of the girls was not identified. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe probation report placed him at low risk of reoffending. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe had no prior convictions and cooperated fully with the Garda investigation. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe had written a letter of apology, which the judge ordered to be forwarded to the victim. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Jan2025
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Teen who filmed young girls undressed in National Aquatic Centre changing area spared sentence

    Sentence hearing at Dublin Children's Court. Judge applied the Probation of Offenders Act, so no recorded conviction. Article gives the offence year only as 2022.

    accused, 17, malevictim, 5, femalevictim, 9, female