Sex offender (51) sent suggestive Snapchat message to schoolgirl within hours of leaving jail after sexual assault conviction

A 51-year-old Mitchelstown man who sent a sexual Snapchat message to a schoolgirl, within three hours of his release from prison from a sentence for a sexual assault despite strict conditions, asked to be let out on bail again today, complaining he was sleeping on the floor of a cell because of overcrowding.

Anthony Quigley of Roche’s Heights, Mitchelstown, appeared for sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court but the case – like more than 20 cases against other defendants – had to be adjourned because of the solicitors’ dispute over the Minister for Justice’s plan to change free legal aid payments.

His case had been adjourned from February and a number of times since, until he was before the court again today.

When Quigley’s case was adjourned until July 17 with him in custody, he asked Judge Dermot Sheehan: “Could you think about giving me bail? I am sleeping on the floor in the Midlands Prison. It’s not acceptable.” 

Judge Sheehan said: 

“As soon as the strike is over you can make a bail application. Your solicitor would serve a notice of motion. I will remand you in custody until July 17.” 

Earlier in the accused man’s exchanges with the judge, Judge Sheehan explained to him: “Solicitors are on strike. We cannot move (the case) on.” 

Last February, when Detective Garda David Barry questioned Quigley about this latest of many offences he admitted using the ID 'SusieLOL' as a decoy and said to gardaí: “Snapchat is like a haven for paedophiles”.

The Snapchat message that he sent to a teenage girl on September 15 2025 used a popular song but altered the words to make them sexually suggestive.

“It was sent within three hours of his release from prison on September 15. During interviews he said he was fully aware of the requirements under the act and the order he was subjected to,” 

Det Garda Barry said.

The order was imposed one year ago by Judge Dermot Sheehan and included prohibitions on Quigley contacting any child under the age of 18 or going within 50 metres of a school or such places where children congregate. This ban was for 15 years from February 2025.

On February 24 2025 he was sentenced for a sexual assault and released from custody before 11am on Monday September 15 2025. By 2.03pm he was at home in Mitchelstown, his phone charged and a lewd message sent to a schoolgirl in County Cork.

The 51-year-old has 68 previous convictions, including four for sexual assault, six for common assault, 13 for harassment or stalking, 12 for sending indecent messages, three for making hoax calls and 12 for public order offences.