Courts / Cork / Report

Sex offender twice travelled to Dublin to masturbate in front of girls

Date
2024-03-04

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Douglas

County
Cork

Summary

David Douglas, 65, from Belfast, was jailed for a year after pleading guilty to two charges of masturbating in a public place at Dundrum Town Centre in March 2022. He admitted playing an "eye contact game" for about 20 years, focusing on young girls. An off‑duty Garda and her 11‑year‑old daughter reported that Douglas sat close to them in the food court, looking at them, and later ran when security alerted the Gardaí. CCTV showed Douglas masturbating outside his clothing near where girls were seated, and he claimed he used alcohol to reduce inhibitions. He has 33 prior convictions, including road traffic offences and sexual offences, but none involving physical contact. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced him to 15 months' imprisonment, suspended the final three months, and imposed 12 months of probation on release.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Sex offender twice travelled to Dublin to masturbate in front of girls. Charges or matters: two charges of masturbation in a public place at Dundrum Town Centre on March 24 and March 27, 2022. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 24 Hearing Or Sentence
March 27, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
March 2022 Incident
March 27 Hearing Or Sentence
2024-03-04 Publication

Why: A sex offender who twice travelled from his home in Belfast to a Dublin shopping centre in order to masturbate in the view of young girls has been jailed for a year. CNI source report