Tom Humphries remanded at his own request pending sentence

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

Former journalist Tom Humphries was remanded in custody at his own request pending sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on 3 October 2017.

Humphries had pleaded guilty to six offences against a girl under 17. He was before the court for sentence for the sexual exploitation and defilement of a child.

The court heard that Humphries and the girl exchanged 16,000 text messages during a three-month period. The messages began as encouragement but later became sexually explicit, and Humphries engaged in sexual acts with her when she was 16. The girl said the experience left her depressed and suicidal.

Defence counsel Hugh Hartnett said medical reports suggested neurological issues may have impaired Humphries’s judgment. He said the evidence would not be enough to prove a defence of insanity or lack of intent, but asked the judge to take it into account.

Judge Karen O'Connor said she had material to consider and would pass sentence on 24 October 2017.