Man (20s) charged with sex crimes in Inishowen appears in court

A man in his late 20s has been arrested and charged with sex-related crimes alleged to have taken place in Co Donegal.

The man appeared at a sitting of Letterkenny District Court.

Detective Garda Jason Conroy gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of the man at a location in the Inishowen area.

Detective Garda Conroy told the court that Gardai had no objection to bail and that certain conditions had been agreed to.

The man is charged that he did for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification from the presence of a child under the age of 17 years, or for the purpose of corrupting or depraving a child under the age of 17 years, intentionally engage in sexual activity playing/ toying/ moving his hand up and down on his penis whether or not with another person (a) when the child was present at another place from which the child could observe the person, and (b) knowing or believing that the child was aware, or intending that the child should be aware, that he or she was engaging in such sexual activity.

This charge is Contrary to Section 5 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.

The accused is also charged that on a date in February, 2025, in Co Donegal, he did for sexual purposes, invite, induce, counsel or incite a child under the age of 15 years, to touch, with a part of the body or with an object, the body of another person, including the person who so invited, induced, counselled or incited the child.

This charge is Contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.

The accused man did not speak during the brief hearing.

Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle told the court that the State was looking for the case to be adjourned until July 9, 2026 to "tie in with other matters."

Judge Ciaran Liddy agreed to the adjournment and ordered a publication order in the case meaning nothing should be published that may identify the alleged victim in the case.

Legal aid was also granted.