Courts / Dublin / Report
Jail for man who sent explicit Snapchat messages to over 100 underage girls
Summary
Mark Fitzgerald, 39, of Clondalkin, Dublin, voluntarily turned himself in to Gardaí in May 2022 after admitting he had sent sexually explicit messages and photos to over 100 under‑age girls on Snapchat. Gardaí recovered 1,490 conversations from April 2022, in which Fitzgerald had initiated 136 chats with girls aged 12 to 14, asking for their age and photos, and offering to send pictures of his genitalia. He also requested images of the girls' faces, bodies and genitals, and claimed he had no sexual intent. Gardaí preserved the material and presented it to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Fitzgerald's self‑reporting and mitigating circumstances, imposed a two‑year prison sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for man who sent explicit Snapchat messages to over 100 underage girls. Charges or matters: five counts of using technology to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child on dates in April 2022. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2022 Other
- 2025-04-02 Publication
Why: He said his then-partner had come across the material while looking at his phone and the relationship ended because of this. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: five counts of using technology to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child on dates in April 2022 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Imposing sentence, Judge Martin Nolan noted that Fitzgerald self-reported his criminal behaviour to gardai. He said that Fitzgerald deserved a prison term, but noted there was "good mitigation", including that the defendant had self-reported to gardai, before imposing a two-year sentence.
Places mentioned
- St Mark's Drive
- Dublin
- handed himself into Ronanstown Garda Station
- he went to Ronanstown Garda Station
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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