Courts / Dublin / Report
Jehovah's Witness who exploited girl (13) was 'sexually naive in the extreme', lawyers say
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 29‑year‑old Jehovah's Witness admitted to sexually exploiting a 13‑year‑old girl. The court heard that in 2016 the man and the girl exchanged Viber messages, including sexually explicit images of the child. The abuse was discovered when the girl's older sister found the messages on a shared computer and alerted their mother. The man claimed he was "sexually naive in the extreme" because of the strict sexual mores of his religion, which forbids any contact beyond kissing or hugging before marriage. He said he had reported his actions to church elders and was excommunicated. Gardaí noted the man had only met the girl once in a public place and that they had only kissed and hugged. The case was adjourned for sentencing on 18 February. The court emphasized the seriousness of the matter and the significant age disparity.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jehovah's Witness who exploited girl (13) was 'sexually naive in the extreme', lawyers say. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- February 18 Adjournment
- 2021-02-08 Publication
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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