Courts / Dublin / Report
Man who fantasised online about abusing granddaughters is jailed
Summary
A 65‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to one year in prison for engaging in an online sexual fantasy with a stranger about raping his two granddaughters, aged seven and two. The man, whose name is withheld to protect the children, had a Skype conversation with a Canadian user named 'Bill' in which they discussed paedophilic inclinations and described the rape of the grandchildren. Gardaí found the conversation and two copies of a child‑abuse image on the man's laptop, and he pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing and distributing child pornography in October 2017. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a headline sentence of three years, but after considering psychological and probation reports, she set a final sentence of two years with the third year suspended, subject to 12 months probation and victim‑focused work. The man has no prior convictions and expressed remorse, with a low risk of reoffending assessed.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who fantasised online about abusing granddaughters is jailed. Charges or matters: one count of knowingly possessing child pornography and one count of knowingly distributing child pornography on dates in October 2017. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 2017 Incident
- 2021-11-08 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of knowingly possessing child pornography and one count of knowingly distributing child pornography on dates in October 2017 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: By Isabel Hayes and Fiona Ferguson A grandfather who engaged in an online sexual fantasy with a stranger about the rape of his two granddaughters, then aged seven and two years old, has been jailed for a year. Judge Greally imposed concurrent sentences totalling two years and suspended the final year on conditions including 12 months probation supervision and engagement in victim focused work.
Places mentioned
Topics
Sexual Offences Stage Sentence
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