Boy, 16, admits filming young girls undressed in changing kiosk at National Aquatic Centre

Tom Tuite

A teenage boy has pleaded guilty to using his phone to film young girls who were undressed in a changing area at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named because he is a minor, was charged with two offences under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act.

He has been accused of knowingly possessing two videos on his mobile phone at the centre in Blanchardstown on a date in 2022 when he was aged 14.

The Dublin Children's Court heard that the second charge alleged he produced them for distribution, export, publication, sale, or show.

The schoolboy, accompanied by his mother and father, will appear again in December when a victim impact statement and a pre-sentence probation report will be furnished to the court.

Garda James Grogan said the teen used his phone, which was placed on a kiosk floor, to film girls aged five and nine as they were undressed, and breast and vagina areas were visible.

The younger girl was not identified.

Judge Paul Kelly ruled that the case should proceed after the defence raised the issue of prosecutorial delay after a one-year and eight-month wait from the date of the incident until being charged.

Garda Grogan provided a timeline for handling the case. He said the juvenile complainant had to be interviewed by a specialist, which took place in July 2022.

The phone seized had to be technically examined, and the officer received a complete analysis and extraction report in October last year.

A second video was also found on the phone and had to be investigated, and efforts were made to identify the second juvenile.

Garda Grogan told defence counsel Doireann McDonagh that the teen gave a statement of admission during his interview in September 2023. Then, the officer sent the investigation file to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, which found the case unsuitable for a caution.

The defence barrister said there was a psychological report on the boy, who had been diagnosed with mental health issues.

The court heard that he had moved to Ireland a few years beforehand and had experienced bullying and separation from one of his parents due to Covid.

Another matter was dealt with through the juvenile diversion programme.