Man (34) accused of showing girl (11) porn and asking for kisses in a laundry room
Tom Tuite
A man showed an 11-year-old girl porn on his phone while saying he loved her and asking for kisses at an emergency accommodation centre in Dublin, it has been alleged.
The accused, now 34, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces a charge under section 45.3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2017, in connection with the alleged incident in 2024.
He appeared at Dublin District Court for a trial venue ruling.
The offence is intentionally engaging in offensive conduct of a sexual nature which, on conviction, is punishable by a sentence of up to six months' jail in the District Court or two years at the Circuit Court level.
Judge Treasa Kelly noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that the case be dealt with only in the District Court if the man pleaded guilty.
Defence counsel Paddy Flynn said his client was not indicating a plea at this point, and the barrister asked the judge to proceed to consider the jurisdiction issue.
An outline of the facts was then given, with the court hearing that the incident was reported to have happened in a laundry room at a north Dublin facility assisting people affected by homelessness.
The court sergeant stated: “It is alleged the defendant did show an 11-year-old child, whose name I will not divulge, pornography on his phone and told her he loved her, and asked her to kiss him twice.”
The judge noted that he was 33 at the time, the incident occurred in a laundry room within the facility, and there was CCTV evidence.
Judge Kelly decided that the case was too serious to be handled in the District Court and should proceed to the higher level.
The man stood silently throughout the hearing.
He was remanded on continuing bail to appear in November for prosecutors to serve him with a book of evidence and the granting of a return-for-trial order. Legal aid was granted.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.
