Man admits using social media to attempt to meet a child for sexual exploitation

Stephen Maguire

A man has admitted to attempting to meet a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation in Co Donegal.

The man appeared at Donegal Circuit Court where he pleaded guilty to two charges arising out of an incident in Letterkenny in July last year.

The man is currently on remand in Castlerea Prison having been arrested by gardaí.

It follows an incident in which the man traveled from his address in Dublin in July 2025.

The accused, who is in his 20s, is charged with attempting to meet a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation contrary to common law.

He is charged that on July 15th, 2025, at Century Cinemas, Paddy Harte Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, he did attempt to meet a child for the purpose of doing anything that would constitute sexual exploitation of that child having attempted to communicate by messages with that child on at least one occasion.

He is also accused of using Information and Communication Technology to facilitate sexual exploitation of a child contrary to Section 8 of the Criminal Law (Sexual offences) Act 2017.

He is charged that between the July 10th, 2025, and July 15th, 2025, both dates inclusive at unknown locations within the State did by means of information and communication technology, namely Snapchat and Whatsapp platforms, communicate with another person for the purpose of facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child.

The man only spoke to plead guilty when both charges were put to him.

Barrister for the accused, Sean McGee, instructed by solicitor Rory O'Brien, asked the court for a Probation and Welfare report for his client which he said would be useful to his client.

Judge John Aylmer agreed and adjourned the case until the July session of Letterkenny Circuit Court.

The man cannot be named at present following an earlier order by the district court.