Donegal man who sent sexual messages to undercover police officer he believed to be 12 year old girl jailed for two years

Joseph Coyle (41) of Castle Street, Ramelton, Co Donegal appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court on Thursday for sentencing after pleading guilty to the charges at an earlier hearing.

Coyle pleaded guilty to the use of information and communication technology in an attempt to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child.

He was charged that, on a date between November 10, 2020 and November 16, 2020, both dates inclusive, that he did attempt to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 17 by inducing or coercing the child to engage in sexual activity.

Coyle also pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to cause a child under the age of 17 to watch another person engage in sexual activity for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification.

The charge related to the same dates.

Coyle was detected by an undercover officer who was pretending to be a 12 year old child on a chatroom.

At a previous hearing, Garda Eugene Organ gave evidence and explained that Gardai were alerted to a report from the National Protection Services Bureau about interactions on chat apps 321 chat and google hangouts where an undercover online officer had engaged in a conversation over a period of six days.

Information then came to gardaí and a trace was done on two email accounts and the user was identified as the defendant.

The court heard a total of seven images were sent over the period of six days, along with other conversations, including how he 'would love to have sex' with the girl and asking her to perform a sexual act.

Coyle attended the Garda station by arrangement on February 2, 2023 and he admitted to the offences.

The court heard Coyle has no previous convictions and lives at home with his parents.

Barrister for Coyle, Patricia McLaughlin, with Mr Timothy Morrow BL, instructed by solicitor Mr Patsy Gallagher, said he cooperated, gave gardaí his pin number and email and handed over his devices, admitted to the images online and entered an early plea.

Ms McLaughlin said it was now four years since the offence date and he has not come to adverse attention and is a quiet person.

Ms Laughlin said Coyle is so shy he finds it difficult to engage with members of the opposite sex.

A report detailed concerns about Coyle's understanding as to the gravity of the offending while a probation report details he is suitable for probation services, outlines recommendations and deemed Coyle to be at medium risk of reoffending.

Ms McLaughlin said Coyle acknowledges and accepts guilt but acknowledged there is work to be done to appreciate the extent of the offending.

Judge John Aylmer adjourned the case for one week to allow him to read the reports in entirety.

At the sentence hearing on Thursday, Coyle was sentenced to two years in prison.

Judge Aylmer said he was before the court on two very serious offences that carry potential maximum sentences of 14 years and 10 years. Judge Aylmer said the potential maximum sentence indicates how serious the legislature views these types of offences.

He said in this case, Coyle was detected by an undercover police officer who was pretending to be a child of 12 years old.

Judge Aylmer said the interaction included a request for a 12 year old to have sexual intercourse, saying he 'would love to have sexual intercourse.'

He added all of the engagement occurred over a six day period.

He said the offending was mid-range meriting five years in prison.

In mitigation, Judge Aylmer acknowledged that Coyle had cooperated fully with the investigation, had entered a guilty plea, had no previous convictions and had not come to adverse attention since the offending.

Judge Aylmer said he is shy, isolated and was still living with his parents.

He added that unfortunately, Coyle had displayed very little insight into the offending and had been assessed by probation as medium risk of reoffending.

Judge Aylmer added probation has emphasised the need for rehabilitation and recommended a period of two years supervision.

Judge Aylmer said he was going to invest more of the mitigation into rehabilitation and said he would reduce the sentence to one of four years in prison.

He added it might seem like somewhat less credit than is applied in other cases but he said in the interest of probation's recommendations, he would suspend the final two years of the four year sentence.

Coyle was ordered to enter into a bond to keep the peace for two years subsequent to his release and two years supervision of probation service.

Coyle was ordered to attend all appointments with probation officers, notify them of any change of circumstances, engage in assessment for the sex offenders programme, engage in all recommended intervention and any offence focused work made available to him.

Coyle will be placed on sex offenders registers.