Man (20s) to stand trial for trying to communicate with child for sex purposes

Stephen Maguire

A man who travelled to Co Donegal after allegedly using Snapchat and WhatsApp to communicate with a child for sexual purposes is to stand trial.

The man, who is in his 20s, has been in custody since being arrested in the Letterkenny area in July.

He appeared by videolink at Letterkenny District Court from Castlerea Prison where he has been held since his arrest.

Garda Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that the man is to be sent forward for trial for charges under Section 7 and 8 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.

The man cannot be named for legal reasons.

He was arrested in the Letterkenny area in July and was found in possession of five condoms, while “other sexual paraphernalia” was found in a property.

It follows allegations against the accused man, which were widely shared on social media.

The man was charged by detectives in Donegal at 4.07pm on Wednesday, July 16th.

He was charged that, between July 10th, 2025, and July 15th, 2025, both dates inclusive, within the State, did, by means of information and communication technology, namely Snapchat and WhatsApp, communicate with another person for the purpose of facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 17.

He is also charged that on July 15th, 2025, at Paddy Harte Road, Letterkenny, County Donegal, did intentionally travel with the intention of meeting a child under the age of 17 years, having communicated by any means, specifically using an ICT device, with the child on at least one previous occasion, for the purpose of doing anything that would constitute sexual exploitation of the child.

Sergeant Collins previously told the court that detectives had obtained copies of conversations between the accused man and what was described as “a fictional child”, who he believed was 13 years of age on Snapchat and WhatsApp.

The man, with an address in the Dublin area, had allegedly booked an apartment in Letterkenny for a number of days.

Gardaí also seized other items and documents from the man’s vehicle.

The man’s solicitor, Mr Rory O’Brien, told the court that his client has a first-class honours degree from an Irish university.

Until recently, the man was in active employment, but is now unemployed.

Sergeant Collins said the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented for the accused to be sent forward to the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court commencing in February, 2026, for trial.

Judge Emile Daly gave the accused man the alibi warning and remanded him in custody until his trial date.

Solicitor, Mr Rory O'Brien, sought one counsel in the case.