Courts / Dublin / Report
Judge bans man jailed for online sexual exploitation of girls from enrolling in computer course
Summary
Matthew Horan, 26, was sentenced in January to nine‑and‑a‑half years for possession of child pornography and coercing girls to send sexual images. The final two‑and‑a‑half years were suspended. Judge Martin Nolan, after a probation report, ordered that Horan not enrol in a computer programming course and that he enter a bond of good behaviour for two years, undergo two years of post‑release supervision and access all available services. The court heard that Horan used Skype, Snapchat, Instagram and Kik to exchange child porn and to coerce girls, including a nine‑year‑old, into sending graphic material. He threatened to post an 11‑year‑old's nude images if she did not comply. Horan pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexual exploitation and child‑pornography possession, with no prior convictions. The judge described his sexual interest as unhealthy, insidious and debased, noting that Horan understood the harm yet continued his actions.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Judge bans man jailed for online sexual exploitation of girls from enrolling in computer course. Charges or matters: a count each of sexually exploiting two girls within the State on dates between April 1 and November 23, 2014; two more counts of sexually exploiting a child and one count of distributing child porn on dates in 2015; possessing child porn at his address on July 11, 2015; three further counts of sexually exploiting female children through Snapchat and Instagram in the State on dates between May 21, 2015 and July 7, 2016; possessing child porn on a Sony mobile phone at his home on July 7, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 1 Incident
- November 23, 2014 Incident
- July 11, 2015 Incident
- May 21, 2015 Incident
- July 7, 2016 Incident
- 2018-03-22 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: a count each of sexually exploiting two girls within the State on dates between April 1 and November 23, 2014; two more counts of sexually exploiting a child and one count of distributing child porn on dates in 2015; possessing child porn at his address on July 11, 2015; three further counts of sexually exploiting female children through Snapchat and Instagram in the State on dates between May 21, 2015 and July 7, 2016; possessing child porn on a Sony mobile phone at his home on July 7, 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Matthew Horan (26) was sentenced last January to nine-and-a-half years with the final two and a half suspended. During the sentence hearing last January, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Horan used Skype, Snapchat, Instagram and Kik, an anonymous instant messaging application, to send and receive child porn images from six identified child users in Ireland and nine unknown users around the world.
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