Courts / Ireland / Report
Man who defiled and exploited girl (13) appeals sentence
Summary
Darragh Meehan, aged 26, was sentenced to six‑and‑a‑half years in March 2018 for defiling and sexually exploiting a 13‑year‑old girl when he was 19. The victim met Meehan in December 2011, after which they communicated regularly via Skype, Facebook and text. Meehan exposed himself, masturbated on camera, and urged the girl to masturbate or penetrate herself. In March 2012 they met in a park, where Meehan asked the girl to masturbate him, kissed her, and inserted his hand into her clothes, causing her discomfort. He also requested oral sex, which she initially refused but eventually complied with briefly. The girl's mother discovered concerning messages and alerted Gardaí, leading to Meehan's identification and subsequent guilty plea to one count of defilement and three counts of sexual exploitation. He has now appealed the severity of his sentence in the Court of Appeal, arguing the headline sentence of nine years is too high.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who defiled and exploited girl (13) appeals sentence. Charges or matters: one count of defilement and three counts of sexual exploitation of the girl on dates between December 2011 and May 2012. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- December 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2012 Other
- 2019-03-28 Publication
Why: "She was induced to submit because of the manipulation and grooming that had taken place," the judge said. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of defilement and three counts of sexual exploitation of the girl on dates between December 2011 and May 2012 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Sentencing him to six-and-a-half years imprisonment in March 2018, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said Meehan had groomed the victim whom he described as "a child in the full sense". "She was induced to submit because of the manipulation and grooming that had taken place," the judge said. Meehan moved to appeal the severity of his sentence today in the Court of Appeal, where judgement was reserved.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request