Predator set up by 'decoy' in child exploitation case heard in Waterford
The man appeared at Waterford Courthouse.
A man in Waterford has pleaded guilty to two counts of harmful communications for the purposes of sexual exploitation of a child.
He pleaded guilty to a charge contrary to Section 8 (1) of the Criminal Law 2017 (Sexual Offences) Act, namely: "Use of information and communication technology to facilitate sexual exploitation of a child."
The man is currently in custody and appeared via video-link at Waterford Circuit Court. He cannot be identified for legal reasons.
The man exchanged a number of messages through Facebook and WhatsApp on a date between 2024 and 2025. His defence counsel told the court that he had been communicating with a "decoy put in place by an agency". He will be sentenced in April.
