DPP to direct course of Limerick child exploitation case

THE Director of Public Prosecutions has been given four weeks to notify Limerick District Court of her directions in a case involving a 29-year old man who Gardaí say they apprehended while he was on the way to have sex with a young teenager.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was granted bail when he was charged with sexually exploiting a child more than three weeks ago but he has been unable to take it up.

Gardaí allege that on Monday, May 9 they intercepted the man on his way to a hotel to meet the boy whom he had engaged with on social media.

On May 11, he was arrested while on his way to meet the boy and brought before Limerick District Court where he was charged with sexually exploiting a child between January 3 and February 10 of this year.

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It is alleged that the man booked a hotel room where was to meet the teenage boy for sex on two dates in May and February. However these meetings did not take place.

Gardaí say the teenager was sent provocative images and videos by the accused after he befriended him on social media a week earlier and explicit videos involving another young boy whose identity was unknown, were also found on the man’s phone.

Other material and images of the young boy was found on a second phone, Gardai say.

The man was granted bail on a number of strict conditions including that an independent surety of €5,000 be provided and approved by both Gardaí and the court. The judge also ordered that half of money had to be lodged to the court.

The conditions had not been met as of last Tuesday when the accused was before the court.

The matter has been adjourned until June 29 to allow the DPP direct as to how the case is to proceed.

Other conditions of bail include that the man cannot have unsupervised contact with anyone under 18, including family members and he must notify gardai in advance of any intention to travel within the jurisdiction.

He must surrender his passport, and to keep away from the Internet and all social media platforms including access through smart phones and is to have “absolutely no contact” with the alleged injured party or his family.