Tom Humphries remanded over child sexual exploitation

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

Tom Humphries was remanded in custody at his own request at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He had pleaded guilty to six offences against a girl under 17, involving sexual exploitation and defilement of a child. The proceedings were reported on 3 October 2017.

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

The court heard that Humphries began texting the girl in late 2008, when she was 14, after contact through his work with junior sports teams. The messages later became sexually explicit. He met her and engaged in sexual acts with her when she was 16. Their contact continued, and at one point 16,000 messages were exchanged over a three-month period.

Prosecuting counsel Shane Costelloe said explicit messages were discovered on an old phone Humphries had given a family member for donation to charity. The court heard that other phones were handed to gardaí. The girl thanked his family for reporting him and said her education, social and sporting life had suffered.

Defence counsel Hugh Hartnett said medical reports suggested neurological issues may have impaired Humphries' judgment. He acknowledged that the evidence was insufficient to establish a defence of insanity or lack of intent, but asked the judge to consider it. He said Humphries was remorseful and wanted to go into custody.