Ireland Case No. 9803Sexual offences against a child · Co. Westmeath
Westmeath man given suspended sentence for sexual messages to undercover officer
Between June and July 2021, Kevin Smyth (58), of Dublin Road, Castlepollard, County Westmeath, a former OPW worker, sent sexualised messages to an undercover PSNI operative posing as a 13-year-old girl; the operative was not a real child. After gardaí were sent an intelligence pack by the PSNI and identified him, Smyth pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to charges under the 2017 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act. On 6 May 2026, the court imposed concurrent four-year prison sentences on three charges, suspended in full for eight years with conditions including probation, treatment, counselling, a €15,000 payment to Barnardos, and inclusion on the Sex Offenders' Register.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced1 May
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Kevin Smyth, 58, of Dublin Road, Castlepollard, County Westmeath, sent sexualised messages to an undercover PSNI operative posing as a 13-year-old girl.
- The victim was an undercover officer, not a real child.
- When
- The offences took place on dates in 2021, including 30 June, 15 July and between 29 June and 19 July.
- Sources give the sentencing date as 6 May 2026 in the article body, while the article is dated 1 May 2026 in its listing.
- Cause
- The judge said Smyth was motivated by an unhealthy preoccupation with deviant sexual acts, and his online pornography addiction had escalated into an interest in child abuse material.
- Investigation
- The Police Service of Northern Ireland sent an intelligence pack to gardaí about a specific user on chatrooms and social media apps.
- After gardaí identified him, Smyth first claimed he did not know the person was a child.
- Charges
- Smyth pleaded guilty to attempting to cause a child to look at an image of himself engaging in sexual activity on 15 July, to attempting to invite a child to sexual touching on 30 June, and to attempting to use Skype and WhatsApp to facilitate child sexual exploitation between 29 June and 19 July.
- In court
- Smyth pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to charges under the 2017 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act.
- The judge said the offences involved a grooming type of activity and occurred over a short period, with no evidence of prior crimes.
- Sentence
- The judge imposed concurrent four-year prison sentences on three charges and took two further offences into consideration.
- The entire sentence was suspended for eight years, subject to strict conditions.
- Smyth must remain under supervised probation for 18 months, complete a treatment programme within 24 months, continue counselling with Dr Norton, and pay €15,000 to Barnardos within six months.
- Smyth will be subject to the restrictions of the Sex Offenders' Register.
- Other details
- A psychologist's report stated Smyth was at low risk of reoffending if he continued specialist counselling, and he lost his OPW job after the offending came to light.
18 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA Westmeath man sent sexualised messages to an undercover PSNI operative posing as a 13-year-old girl. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on dates in 2021. (thejournal.ie)
- causeSmyth's online pornography addiction escalated into an interest in child abuse material, which led him to seek out what he believed was a 13-year-old girl. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe Police Service of Northern Ireland sent an intelligence pack to gardaí about a specific user on chatrooms and social media apps. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationAfter gardaí identified him, Smyth first claimed that he did not know it was a child. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe first charge concerned an attempt on 15 July to cause a child to look at an image of himself engaging in sexual activity. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeSmyth admitted attempting to use Skype and WhatsApp to facilitate child sexual exploitation between 29 June and 8 July, and from 8 July until 19 July. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeSmyth also pleaded guilty to attempting to invite a child to sexual touching on 30 June. (thejournal.ie)
- courtSmyth pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to charges under the 2017 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed concurrent four-year prison sentences on three charges and took two further offences into consideration. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe entire sentence was suspended for eight years, subject to strict conditions. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceSmyth must remain under supervised probation for 18 months, complete a treatment programme within 24 months, and continue counselling with Dr Norton. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceSmyth was ordered to pay €15,000 to the Barnardos children’s charity within six months. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceSmyth will be subject to the restrictions of the Sex Offenders’ Register. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe judge said Smyth had been motivated by an unhealthy preoccupation with deviant sexual acts and that the offences involved a grooming type of activity. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA psychologist's report stated that Smyth was at low risk of reoffending if he continued specialist counselling. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe judge noted there was no evidence of prior crimes and that the offences occurred over a short period. (thejournal.ie)
- otherSmyth lost his OPW job and suffered depression and isolation from his family after the offending came to light. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 May2026Man given suspended sentence for sending sexual messages to officer posing as teenage girl
Sentencing report at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. The victim was an undercover PSNI operative posing as a child, not a real child. Offences occurred in 2021 and the case was finalised on 6 May 2026.
convicted, Kevin Smyth, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kevin Smyth