A 22-year old Northern Ireland man has appeared in court charged in connection with the alleged sexual exploitation of a Co Clare girl aged under 17 almost two years ago.
In the case, the man travelled from Northern Ireland to Ennis, Co Clare at the end of October 2023 and is now charged with three offences arising from his contact via social media app, Discord with the child and the possession of child sexual abuse material at an Ennis hotel at the end of October 2023.
In one charge, the man is charged with that on October 30th/31st 2023 that he travelled with the intention of meeting a girl aged under 17 after making contact with her through social media app, Discord for the purpose of doing anything that would constitute sexual exploitation of the child.
The charge is contrary to Section 7 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.
The man is also charged with on October 30th/31st 2023 that he communicated through social media App, Discord with the child for the purpose of facilitating the sexual exploitation of the child, contrary to Section 8(1) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.
In a third charge, the man is charged with that at a hotel room at Temple Gate Hotel, The Square, Ennis that he knowingly had in his possession child pornography on October 31st 2023.
This consisted of a Toshiba external hard drive containing one image of child sexual abuse material, 123 images of Child Anime abuse material and 19 videos of Child Anime abuse material and the charge is contrary to Section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998.
Det Garda Conor Flaherty of the Clare Garda Division’s Protective Services Bureau (PSB) told Ennis District Court that he arrested the defendant at 9.46am before court at Ennis Garda Station for the purpose of charge.
Det Garda Flaherty said that the accused made no reply to the charges after caution.
Det Garda Flaherty said that there was no objection to bail as the accused has agreed to a number of conditions including that he reside at his parents’ address in Co Antrim.
The other bail conditions include that the accused is not to enter Co Clare except for court appearances and have no contact directly or indirectly with the complainant in the case.
Solicitor Shiofra Hassett, on behalf of the accused, said that it is a suitable case for legal aid and applied that legal aid be granted for solicitor, Daragh Hassett to represent the accused.
Sgt John Burke told the court that the DPP has directed that the case go before Ennis Circuit Court and that a Book of Evidence will be required.
He said that the complainant in the case is a minor and reporting restrictions on the identity of the accused and complainant would apply.
Judge Adrian Harris has remanded the accused on bail to appear before Ennis District Court on September 10th for the serving of a Book of Evidence.
