A man who had sex with a 16-year-old girl he contacted on Facebook has been sentenced to three years in prison.
The now 29-year-old father of three, who cannot be named to protect the victim’s identity, was 27 when he met and had sex with the girl nine days after contacting her on the social networking site.
He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of defilement of a child on January 22nd and February 4th, 2013, at two locations in Dublin.
Judge Desmond Hogan had adjourned sentencing after hearing evidence last December and asked for a probation report.
He read from the report and concluded that the man had no insight into the effect he had on the girl.
“It’s all about him and how it has impacted on himself and his family. He knew well what he was at. She may have been willing but she was underage,” Judge Hogan said.
“I don’t like using that expression because it is belittling of her but he knew what he was at . . . his own self-gratification.”
Caroline Biggs SC, defending, said her client acknowledged the “grave wrongdoing” but added there was no suggestion of a lack of consent.
The judge sentenced the man to three years in prison and suspended the final 12 months on condition that on his release he co-operated with the Probation Service.