Courts / Tipperary / Report
Female social worker jailed for defiling boy (16) in care of State bids to overturn conviction
Summary
A 44‑year‑old social worker, whose name is withheld to protect the victim, was jailed for four years, with the final two years suspended, for sexually defiling a 16‑year‑old boy in her care at a midlands school. The offence occurred between 1 April and 15 May 2016 when the boy was at her home. She pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury after an 11‑day trial. She has appealed the conviction, arguing that Facebook messages exchanged with the boy, which were used as evidence, were obtained under the wrong section of the 2008 Ireland/US Mutual Assistance Treaty. The appeal contends that the request for the messages was made by the Director of Public Prosecutions rather than the Central Authority, and that the certificate of authenticity for the material was flawed. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment on the matter.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Female social worker jailed for defiling boy (16) in care of State bids to overturn conviction. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- November 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 1 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 15, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2023-10-23 Publication
Why: The 44-year-old woman, who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of her victim, appealed the conviction on the grounds that a request for the messages by the State to the social media giant were applied for under the wrong section of a 2008 treaty on mutual legal assistance between Ireland and the United States. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; A social worker jailed for defiling a boy who was in the care of the State at the time has launched an appeal against her conviction, arguing that Facebook messages they exchanged should not have been put before the trial jury. She was jailed for four years with the final two years suspended by Judge Cormac Quinn sitting at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court in November 2022.
Places mentioned
- Clonmel
- Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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