Courts / Dublin / Report
Extortionist made false allegations that man was paedophile
Summary
John Buckley AKA Maughan, 28, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to sample counts from 94 charges, including four counts of harassment and the remainder of making demands with menaces against four named victims. Judge Martin Nolan imposed concurrent sentences totalling five years and ordered Maughan to have no contact with any of the injured parties for 20 years. The court heard that Maughan extorted over €14,000 from his victims, all of which was transferred to his Boyle Sports gambling account. Prosecution evidence alleged that Maughan threatened one man in his 60s that he would falsely accuse him of being a paedophile and share these untrue allegations on social media. In a separate series of offences, Maughan allegedly threatened a woman with whom he had a relationship that he would send intimate photos of her to her boyfriend, and he harassed and extorted €2,000 from her. Judge Nolan described the false paedophile allegation as "hugely insidious and damaging" and "morally reprehensible," noting that Maughan had caused huge trauma and distress to his victims. In mitigation, the judge noted Maughan's remorse, his guilty plea, his co-operation, and that he had engaged in this behaviour as a way to deal with his gambling debts. Defence counsel highlighted Maughan's gambling and drug addictions, his stable relationship, and his two children, one of whom suffers from severe autism, arguing that a custodial term would be felt keenly by his family.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Extortionist made false allegations that man was paedophile. Charges or matters: sample counts from a total of 94 charges, including four of harassment and the remainder of making demands with menaces in relation to four named victims. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2023-03-24 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: sample counts from a total of 94 charges, including four of harassment and the remainder of making demands with menaces in relation to four named victims (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan said Maughan had caused huge trauma and distress to his victims. Judge Nolan imposed concurrent sentences totalling five years and ordered Maughan to have no contact with any of the injured parties for 20 years.
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