Courts / Sligo / Report
Boy tried to upload video of sexual assault on cousin (8) to YouTube
Summary
A teenager from Sligo pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexually assaulting his eight-year-old cousin and recording the incident on St Stephen's Day 2021. The boy, who was 14 at the time and cannot be named due to his age, attempted to upload the video to YouTube, which intervention by the platform prevented. The attempt to upload led authorities to identify him. He has been sentenced to 16 months in detention followed by 16 months of probation supervision. Ms Justice Melanie Greally noted aggravating factors including the victim's age, breach of trust, premeditation, and efforts to upload the recording to social media. She accepted mitigating circumstances including the guilty plea and expressions of remorse. The judge set a headline sentence of 12 years had the defendant been an adult, reducing it to four years due to his age, then imposing the 16-month custodial term. The case has been referred to Tusla. The victim and her family provided impact statements describing ongoing distress.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Boy tried to upload video of sexual assault on cousin (8) to YouTube. Charges or matters: three charges including sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity with a child and production of child pornography at the children's grandparents' home in Sligo on St Stephen's Day 2021. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 11 Other
- Christmas Other
- 2023-12-20 Publication
Why: The now 16-year-old defendant, who cannot be named because he is a child, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three charges including sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity with a child and production of child pornography at the children's grandparents' home in Sligo on St Stephen's Day 2021. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: three charges including sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity with a child and production of child pornography at the children's grandparents' home in Sligo on St Stephen's Day 2021 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A boy who recorded himself sexually assaulting his eight-year-old cousin when he was 14 and tried to upload the video to YouTube has been sentenced to 16 months in detention. She imposed a 16-month period of detention, followed by 16 months of supervision by the Probation Service.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
Related court reports
- Courier who claimed pay unlawfully docked over garage door mishap wins wages back
- Doctor gets 10 years for rape, control and assaults on wife
- Judge rejects Gill's arguments against extradition for Robbie Lawlor murder
- Trial of garda accused of rape and child cruelty in closing stages
- Sligo man Barry Young wanted in NI for gangland murder of Robbie Lawlor
- Robbie Lawlor murder accused argues UK trial would breach his rights
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request