Courts / Limerick / Report

First man prosecuted under child protection legislation has sentence reduced on appeal

Date
2015-05-18
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Limerick
County
Limerick

Summary

Muhammad Hussain, a 29‑year‑old Pakistani man, was convicted in 2014 for travelling to meet a 13‑year‑old girl with the intention of sexual exploitation, the first case prosecuted under child protection legislation. He received a four‑year prison sentence, later reduced on appeal to three years with the final nine months suspended. The Court of Appeal noted no disciplinary issues since conviction, his attendance at classes, and that he had invited the child rather than coerced her. Conditions of the reduced sentence include maintaining good behaviour, cooperating with any relevant counselling, and complying with a deportation order. Hussain will remain on the Sex Offenders Registry and is subject to the Sex Offenders Act 2001. The case stemmed from an encounter on 25 May 2011 when Hussain met the girl, Ms F, who was then 13 and living in institutional care. The appeal hearing was held on 16 February 2015. The unnamed 13-year-old pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: First man prosecuted under child protection legislation has sentence reduced on appeal. Charges or matters: travelling to meet a child with the intention of doing an act that would constitute sexual exploitation on July 22 2011. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Unnamed 13-year-old

Appellant

Charges: travelling to meet a child with the intention of doing an act that would constitute sexual exploitation on July 22 2011 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: by Darren Hassett A Pakistani man jailed for travelling to meet a 13-year-old girl with the intention of doing an act that would constitute sexual exploitation, in what was the first prosecution taken under child protection legislation, had his sentence reduced at the Court of Appeal today. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment by Judge Sarah Berkeley at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on April 4, 2014.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
  • The appeal court
Residence
Facility
  • Midlands Prison
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Appeal

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

Correction or retraction request

If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.

Email a correction request