Saturday 31 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. 19422Sexual exploitation of a child; possession and distribution of child pornography · Co. Wicklow

Wicklow man pleads guilty to sample charges over Facebook exploitation of children

A 26-year-old man faced 190 charges over the sexual exploitation of young children, who were contacted on Facebook while he posed as a teenage girl. The offences relate to various dates in 2015, and Gardaí were alerted by the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in October 2015. On 20 October 2023 the man appeared before Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court and pleaded guilty to 26 sample charges. He was remanded on continuing bail for sentencing on a date next month.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court20 Oct
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A man sexually exploited over 60 young children by posing as a teenage girl on Facebook.
Where
The case was heard at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court, and the offences were committed on Facebook.
When
The offences relate to various dates in 2015.
Investigation
Gardaí were alerted about the offences by the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in October 2015.
Charges
  • The man faced a total of 190 charges, although the listed counts add up to 192.
  • He was charged with 144 counts of sexual exploitation of a child under Section 3 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998, 37 counts of possession of child pornography and 11 counts of distributing child pornographic images.
Other details
  • The offences involved the sexual exploitation of 64 children, and the man set up four Facebook accounts used to commit them.
  • The man has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
In court
On 20 October 2023 the man pleaded guilty to a total of 26 sample charges.
Sentence
The judge remanded the man on continuing bail for sentencing on a date next month.
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man sexually exploited over 60 young children by posing as a teenage girl on Facebook. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe offences relate to various dates in 2015. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí were alerted about the offences by the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in October 2015. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe man faced a total of 190 charges. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeHe was accused of 144 counts of sexual exploitation of a child under Section 3 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with 37 counts of possession of child pornography. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeHe was charged with 11 counts of distributing child pornographic images. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe man appeared before Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe man pleaded guilty to a total of 26 sample charges. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge remanded the man on continuing bail for sentencing on a date next month. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe offences involved the sexual exploitation of 64 children. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe man set up four Facebook accounts which were used to commit the offences. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe man has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Oct2023
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Man got over 60 young children to send him naked photos by posing as a teenage girl on Facebook

    First report of the case in this article: the accused pleaded guilty to 26 sample charges and was remanded for sentencing next month. No existing case in the list covers this incident.

    accused, 26, malevictim