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The Journal
a day ago
- The Journal
Man who sexually abused girl during sleepovers with one of his children jailed for six years
A PAEDOPHILE, WHO sexually abused a girl during sleepovers with one of his own children, was jailed today for seven years with the final 12 months suspended. The man, who cannot be named to protect the anonymity of the victim, sexually groomed the girl and got her to send him explicit videos of herself via her mobile phone. The girl's family rejected an apology from the man through his barrister at his sentencing hearing at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. The court heard that the man, with an address in Co Clare, would whisper to the girl, 'Don't tell, don't tell, it is our little secret', after he abused her. The abuse started in 2010, when the girl was aged ten, and the man was in his 40s. It continued until the girl was 15. The victim made a formal complaint to Gardaí in 2016, when she was aged 16. The man left Ireland after he was arrested and questioned and released on bail pending further enquiries in 2017. He was in custody since he was re-arrested abroad in 2024 on foot of an extradition warrant in respect of 31 child-sex related charges. The man pleaded guilty to six sample charges, including three counts of sexual assaults on the girl, two counts of sexual exploitation of the girl, and one count of possession of child sex abuse images. The court directed the man be included on a national sex offenders register for an indefinite period. The register of known paedophiles in Ireland is not available to the public. Prosecuting barrister John O'Sullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, assisted by Garda Mark McGauley, previously told the court that the man actively groomed the girl 'for the purpose of his own sexual gratification'. The man groomed the girl through chats via the Facebook and Viber social media platforms late at night, and when she attended his home on sleepovers with one of his children. Advertisement The man sent the victim ten images of his penis and asked her to send him images of her private parts. The girl sent the man 20 photos and one video. In an effort to conceal his offending, the man instructed the girl to delete the imagery and video, which she did, and this material could not be recovered. The man told the girl that when she was 18, they would go to Spain and 'go further'. 'She didn't want that,' O'Sullivan told the court. Reading a victim impact statement in court, the girl said her life had been destroyed by the abuse. The girl, now in her 20s, said she continues to suffer from flashbacks, severe depression, anxiety and a complex post traumatic stress disorder. 'He will never truly understand what he did to me. He stole my childhood and he stole my adulthood because I will never cleanse the memories from my mind,' the victim said. 'The abuse continues to filter into my daily life in unexpected ways and trigger me. A song he used to play might play in a shop and it instantly transports me back, memories of what he did would surge into my mind. I can still hear his voice whisper, 'Don't tell, don't tell, it's our little secret'.' The man's barrister, senior counsel Mark Nicholas, said the defendant is in his 50s, had no prior convictions, and was considered by a psychologist as being below average risk of reoffending. Nicholas read out a letter of apology from the man expressing his remorse and shame. A member of the girl's family, who was sitting in the court with her, replied: 'We don't accept your apology.' O'Sullivan said the victim was entitled to her right to anonymity, and that the 'issue of publicity' in respect of the defendant's identify could be finalised at the conclusion of the criminal proceedings. Sentencing Judge Colin Daly ordered that no parties could be identified. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Family blast paedophile who abused girl during sleepovers
A paedophile, who sexually abused a girl during sleepovers with one of his own children, was jailed today for seven years with final 12 months suspended. The man, who cannot be named to protect the anonymity of the victim, sexually groomed the girl and got her to send him explicit videos of herself via her mobile phone. The girl's family rejected an apology from the man through his barrister at his sentencing hearing, held at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. The court heard that the man, with an address in County Clare, would whisper to the girl, 'Don't tell, don't tell, it is our little secret', after he abused her. The abuse started in 2010, when the girl was aged ten, and the man was in his 40s, and continued until the girl was 15. The victim eventually made a formal complaint to Gardaí when she was 16, in 2016. The man left Ireland after he was arrested and questioned and released on bail pending further enquiries in 2017. He was in custody since he was re-arrested abroad in 2024 on foot of an extradition warrant in respect of 31 child-sex related charges. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week The man pleaded guilty to six sample charges, including three counts of sexual assaults on the girl, two counts of sexual exploitation of the girl, and one count of possession of child sex abuse court directed the man be included on a national sex offenders register for an indefinite period. The register of known paedophiles in Ireland is not available to the barrister John O'Sullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, assisted by Garda Mark McGauley, previously told the court that the man 'actively groomed (the girl) for the purpose of his own sexual gratification'. 'She saw him touch his penis with his hand. It was not the first time this happened. He said she was 'beautiful' and a 'special girl'. He actively groomed her for his own sexual gratification,' said prosecuting barrister John O'Sullivan. The man would also put the victim's hand on his penis and he would put his fingers into her vagina. 'He told her, 'This is our little secret',' Mr O'Sullivan man groomed the girl for his sexual pleasure through chats with the girl via the Facebook and Viber social media platforms, late at night, and when she attended his home on sleepovers with one of his man sent the victim 10 images of his penis and asked her to send him images of her private parts. The girl sent the man 20 photos and one an effort to conceal his offending, the man instructed the girl to delete the imagery and video, which she did, and this material could not be man told the girl that when she was 18 they would go to Spain and 'go further". 'She didn't want that,' Mr O'Sullivan told the she made a formal complaint to Gardaí, the girl told specially-trained detectives who deal with sex cases involving minors, that she 'asked (the man) to stop' and that 'it felt weird' after he asked her to kiss his penis and he kissed her vagina. Reading a victim impact statement in court the girl said her life had been destroyed by the abuse. The girl, now in her 20s, said she continues to suffer from flashbacks, severe depression, anxiety and a complex post traumatic stress disorder. 'He will never truly understand what he did to me. He stole my childhood and he stole my adulthood because I will never cleanse the memories from my mind,' the victim said.'The abuse continues to filter into my daily life in unexpected ways and trigger me. A song he used to play might play in a shop and it instantly transports me back, memories of what he did would surge into my mind. I can still hear his voice whisper, 'Don't tell, don't tell, it's our little secret'.'The man's barrister, senior counsel Mark Nicholas, said the defendant is in his 50s, had no prior convictions, and he was considered by a psychologist as being below average risk of Nicholas read out a letter of apology from the man expressing his remorse and shame. A member of the girl's family, who was sitting in the court with her, replied: 'We don't accept your apology.' Mr O'Sullivan said the victim was entitled to her right to anonymity, and that the 'issue of publicity' in respect of the defendant's identify could be finalised at the conclusion of the criminal proceedings. Sentencing Judge Colin Daly ordered no parties could be identified. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Senate impeachment court to vote on whether to proceed with VP Sara trial
The Senate impeachment court is set to vote whether to proceed with the deliberations after receiving the Supreme Court's ruling on the Articles of Impeachment filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, its spokesperson said Sunday. According to Senate Impeachment Court spokesperson Regie Tongol, the body received the email transmittal of the SC decision on Friday evening, July 25, 2025, and will vote on it moving forward. 'Yes, as part of the usual deliberative process of any collegial body based on Senate rules,' he said in a Viber message to reporters over the weekend. This comes as the SC ruled unanimously to declare that the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte as unconstitutional and violate the right to due process. SC spokesperson Camille Ting noted, however, that the SC is not absolving Duterte from any of the charges against her, but any subsequent impeachment complaint may only be filed starting February 6, 2026. The decision is in relation to the petition filed by Duterte and lawyer Israelito Torreon, among others, seeking to declare the Artiles of Impeachment against her null and void Following the announcement of the decision, Tongol said the Senate Impeachment Court is 'duty-bound' to respect the finality of rulings issued by High Court. 'The Senate, sitting as an Impeachment Court, has always acted in deference to the Constitution and the rule of law. As a co-equal branch of government, we are duty-bound to respect the finality of rulings issued by the High Court,' he said then. Senators have since aired contrasting opinions on the decision, with some saying the Senate can still choose to proceed with the trial. Lawyer and Constitutional law expert Domingo 'Egon' Cayosa on Saturday said the Senate may still opt to proceed with the trial, as it may assert its 'exclusive power' with regard to impeachment matters. Three impeachment complaints were filed against Duterte in December 2024, all of which were connected with the alleged misuse of confidential funds. The fourth impeachment complaint, endorsed by over one-third of lawmakers from the House of Representatives, was later on transmitted to the Senate. Duterte, for her part, entered a 'not guilty' plea in the verified impeachment complaint filed against her, which she called merely a 'scrap of paper.' — BM, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
SEC warns public against rising job offer scams on messaging apps
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned the public particularly job seekers, to be cautious of job offer scams being circulated through popular messaging platforms such as Viber, Messenger, and Telegram. In a recent advisory, the SEC's Enforcement and Investor Protection Department (EIPD) noted an 'alarming' rise in reports related to fraudulent job offers targeting individuals online. According to the SEC, the scam follows a 'tasking and recharging scheme' in which victims are contacted via messaging apps and are offered seemingly simple tasks, such as placing orders, sorting items, or clicking on links, for a supposed e-commerce platform. Victims are then instructed to make small initial deposits in order to access the platform and begin earning through paid tasks. While some receive returns early on to establish credibility, they are later encouraged to deposit larger amounts to unlock higher-paying tasks. For example, a victim may be asked to deposit ₱500 to receive a task worth ₱1,000. After completing the task and receiving payment, the scammer offers another opportunity with a larger payout. This cycle continues, with deposit amounts increasing, until victims find themselves unable to withdraw their supposed earnings without making further payments. The SEC emphasized that these schemes vary in mechanics but share a common pattern of luring individuals with small gains before coercing them into depositing more money. 'The EIPD urges the public not to engage in job offer scams and be vigilant when receiving job offers involving these scams and to immediately file reports or lodge their complaints,' SEC said in its advisory. Complaints or reports may be filed via email at [email protected].
GMA Network
16-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Risa joining veterans' bloc? Tito Sotto says, ‘The more, the merrier'
'The more the merrier! She is more than welcome. Her integrity and reputation will always be an asset to the Senate,' Sotto said in a Viber message to reporters. Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on Wednesday welcomed the pronouncement of Senator Risa Hontiveros that she was open to the possibility of joining the five-man "veterans bloc" at the Senate. 'The more the merrier! She is more than welcome. Her integrity and reputation will always be an asset to the Senate,' Sotto said in a Viber message to reporters. The so-called veterans bloc of the upper chamber is composed of Sotto and Senators Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, Loren Legarda, Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, and Lito Lapid. They are pushing for the reinstatement of Sotto as Senate president, replacing Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero. Despite considering herself a veteran lawmaker, Hontiveros emphasized that her final decision on which bloc to join will be revealed on July 28, when the 20th Congress begins its first regular session. "I have to be open to all possibilities na consistent doon sa gusto kong pagpapalakas ng oposisyon para sa 2028 and beyond," she said. (I have to be open to all possibilities that are consistent with my goal to strengthen the opposition for 2028 and beyond.) The lady senator previously said that she is considering forming or joining an independent bloc in the next Congress, explaining that it is 'more realistic' to do so, considering the numbers. Zubiri had floated the possibility of the veterans bloc forming the Senate minority bloc in the 20th Congress. Legarda, meanwhile, said the bloc has yet to decide whether it will be in the minority. –NB, GMA Integrated News
