Ronan Rogers jailed for attempted child exploitation offence

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Ronan Rogers was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 11 July 2023 to three and a half years in prison, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The proceedings were reported on 11 July 2023.

Rogers, 54, of Boyerstown, Navan, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate with a child electronically for the purpose of facilitating the child’s sexual exploitation. The charge concerned dates between 3 March and 6 May 2019. A separate charge of attempting to intentionally meet a child for sexual exploitation at St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, on 6 May 2019 was taken into consideration.

Judge Martin Nolan said Rogers had communicated with people posing as a child whom he believed to be about 11 or 12 years old. A meeting was arranged at a shopping centre, but no child was present. Rogers had suggested meeting the supposed child for certain activities and had sent a photo.

The judge said the defence had argued at an earlier hearing that Rogers should not face the offence because no child was involved. That argument was rejected. Nolan said a person could attempt to do the impossible and be guilty of criminal behaviour.

The judge considered Rogers’ guilty plea, cooperation with gardaí, admissions and remorse, as well as documents submitted to the court. He also noted that Rogers has spina bifida and lives a reclusive life. Nolan ordered him to be supervised by the Probation Service for two years after release and directed that medical reports provided to the court be made available to prison authorities.