A Co Wexford man who was arrested on Saturday afternoon after being confronted by a so-called ‘paedophile vigilante group’ has been released without charge, An Garda Siochana has confirmed.
The man, who lives in the New Ross area of Co Wexford, was arrested and brought to a local garda station where he was questioned for a period of time before being released. Gardai say they are continuing to monitor the situation after tensions were running high during the confrontation between the man and the group on Saturday.
Members of the ‘paedophile hunter group’ Child Online Protection Enforcers N.I. confronted the man, aged in his 50s, on New Ross quayfront on Saturday, where they accused him of communicating with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl over a period of three months.
The incident was live streamed on social media by the group, who accused the man of intending to meet the young girl to carry out illegal sexual acts.
Throughout the hour-long live stream, the man had messages relayed to him that he allegedly sent during the three months of communication he had with the alleged child.
The group alleges the man had threatened to ring the young girl’s grandparents if she didn’t do what he wanted.
The man is also alleged to have stated in the text exchange that if he were to have sex with her, “that would be rape” and he would “get in trouble with the guards”.
“‘I would be arrested and put in prison. I’m willing to take the risk,’” the sting operator read from the screen shots.
She continued to read: “I’m looking forward to taking your virginity and trust me, you will never forget it.”
The accuser then responded: “You’re right, a child will never forget if you raped her. That will stay with her for the rest of her life.”
The group had gathered over 800 screenshots of alleged messages between the man and the child believed to be a decoy, where he repeatedly asks her for explicit images. They included an offer to buy the child a separate phone and send money in exchange for the naked images.
“I’m sorry. I won’t do it again,” the man said, as he maintained throughout the interaction that he has never previously met, nor has he inappropriately touched a child. He also stated he has never been arrested on suspicion of sexual offences.
“I would never do anything like that, because it’s wrong,” he told his accusers.
“I’m dead now,” the alleged sexual predator said as he realised the severity of the situation while locals gathered around him.
"Who’s fault is that? We’ll keep you safe, but whatever the community do – that’s entirely up to them after we go. Do you think they want someone like you living beside them? Someone who’s turned up to rape a 13-year-old child?,” the member of the sting organisation asked.
Gardaí then arrived on the scene and took details of those who carried out the sting operation and also spoke to the alleged perpetrator.
“We’ll go anywhere in Ireland to get these b******* off the streets one by one,” said the man behind the camera.
The group commended the efforts of the gardaí and said: “They’ve been absolutely amazing with us. Thanks to the guards for treating this the way they have, with respect.”
An Garda Síochána confirmed the man was brought to New Ross Garda Station where he was questioned before being released without charge.
They are continuing to monitor the situation and investigations are ongoing.