A teenager who is under the care of the system has been accused of possessing indecent images of children and making unpleasant comments about the children who were killed in the Southport tragedy. The teenager was taken back into custody just two days after being released by the High Court.
The defendant, whose identity is protected due to being a minor, is facing charges of possessing, producing, and disseminating explicit photos involving minors. The alleged offences occurred between January 1, 2023, and August 8, 2024.
According to a police officer’s testimony at Dungannon Magistrates Court, the youth’s siblings were told that he had received explicit photos of children aged 5 to 10 without clothing regularly for more than a year.
The individual advised the defendant that the photographs were unwelcome and instructed them to cease sending them, warning that law enforcement would be notified. However, the defendant continued to transmit the images despite this warning.
The sibling became “angry and upset” after seeing photographs supplied by Facebook and X-Box displayed during video conversations.
He informed the police that the accused possesses a peculiar fixation on young individuals and harbours intentions of sexually assaulting minors.
He sent his brother a photograph of a report on the recent murder of three young children in Southport stating, ‘This is a graveyard for me to dig up.’”
During the interview, the youth was arrested and admitted to owning various seized devices but refused to answer questions about them or divulge the passcodes.
An officer said while the accused has no convictions, “There are numerous occurrences on police systems for sexual incidents and concerns for children. He has a history of assaulting staff in various children’s homes, particularly females with sexual undertones, some dating back to 2017.
The current reports and previous allegations suggest serious risk. His current residential facility has safeguarding concerns for him being among other children, so he cannot return. Given the disturbing content of this matter, police have serious concerns that (youth) is a severe risk to the public, particularly children.”
The judge refused bail on that occasion, stating, “ His refusal to hand over passcodes indicates he has something to hide. These types of images are horrific, and his comment about the children murdered in Southport frankly fills me with horror of what he’s capable of. He’s not fit to be released, and certainly not without a full assessment of dangerousness. There’s a risk to the public, particularly children. We all know actual children suffered for those images to be created, and anyone indulging in that behaviour should go straight to prison.”
However, following many High Court hearings, bail was granted for the accused to return to the children’s care facility with strict safeguarding measures.
At the latest court sitting, a police officer explained that while released on 28 August, the youth was arrested two days after being outside the care facility, which was forbidden without supervision.
He told staff he was leaving and “Would rather go back to the Juvenile Justice Unit.”
Officers spoke to him, during which he contended he would “be out the minute police left” and made references to intentions to self-harm.
Social workers said he “Isn’t adhering to the safety plan. He leaves the facility unsupervised, so two staff members must follow him, obviously leaving other young persons at risk.”
The officer continued, “He lasted two days, and it’s clear there’s a risk of failing to adhere to bail. Social workers say he has put himself and others at risk and there are no other conditions which could be added to prevent breaches of bail. They say he is capable of carrying out the threats he makes.”
A defence barrister urged District Judge Alana McSorley to release the youth, but he refused, remarking, “Despite everyone’s best efforts (youth’s) behaviour is still challenging to manage. He presents a risk to himself and others which I’m very concerned about.”
The case will be mentioned again on 17 September.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.