ADRIAN FINNERTY FROM CO GALWAY SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF TEEN GIRLS ON FACEBOOK

In February 2019, a disturbing case involving a man from Co Galway, Adrian Finnerty, came to light, revealing a pattern of online sexual exploitation targeting vulnerable teenage girls. Finnerty, aged 54, was found to have used social media platforms, specifically Facebook, to manipulate and groom young girls for his own gratification. His actions included creating fake profiles and engaging in sexually explicit conversations, which ultimately led to his conviction and sentencing.

Finnerty’s method involved posing as an 18-year-old, using a photograph of his own son dressed in his debs suit as his profile picture. This deceptive tactic was aimed at attracting teenage girls, some of whom were under the age of 16, to engage with him online. The parents of two girls, both of whom had been befriended by Finnerty, expressed their disappointment at the leniency of the sentence handed down by Galway Circuit Criminal Court, feeling that the punishment did not adequately reflect the severity of his crimes.

Finnerty, a father-of-one residing in Loughrea, Co Galway, had previously pleaded guilty to two separate charges related to the sexual exploitation of two minors. The offences occurred in November 2016, with the first involving a 15-year-old girl who was described as intellectually vulnerable, and the second involving a 13-year-old girl. The court was told that the offences came to light on November 25, 2016, when the first girl visited her local Garda station accompanied by her parents to report her interactions with Finnerty.

Detective Garda Ronan Leonard provided details of the investigation, revealing that Finnerty used his real name on Facebook but falsely claimed to be 18 years old. He employed a photograph of his son in a tuxedo at his graduation as his profile picture to lure young girls into conversations that quickly turned sexually explicit. One of the victims, a 15-year-old girl, believed she was communicating with an 18-year-old, as her Facebook account was set up using her school-issued iPad, which was not in her own name due to her parents’ restrictions.

During their interactions, Finnerty engaged her in conversations that involved requests for photographs of her in pajamas and underwear, often expressing love and affection. Detective Leonard explained that the girl enjoyed the attention, but it was evident from message analysis that she did not fully understand the explicit nature of Finnerty’s requests or the terminology he used. Concerned teachers and her parents became involved after her friend reported her behavior to her teacher, who then contacted her mother.

The second victim, a 13-year-old girl, was targeted in a similar manner. The court heard that their conversations escalated rapidly from a simple greeting to highly sexualized exchanges within just a day and a half of becoming 'friends' on Facebook. Finnerty would send messages early in the morning, during lunch breaks, and late at night. When the girl told her friend she was planning to meet her boyfriend, her friend became worried and alerted her teacher, leading to further intervention by her parents.

Further investigation revealed that Finnerty’s mobile phone contained records of approximately 170 chat conversations with other young girls worldwide, including some in the Middle East. However, Detective Leonard noted that most of these girls did not engage deeply and ceased communication quickly. The court was informed that Finnerty’s online activities were primarily driven by his desire for sexual gratification and the power he felt over his victims, although there was no evidence that he had physically met any of the girls.

Judge Rory McCabe acknowledged the bravery of the girls’ friends in reporting their concerns and emphasized that Finnerty had engaged in grooming behaviors. He stated that Finnerty admitted to enjoying the control and power he exercised over the girls, which was evident in his online interactions. Despite the seriousness of his actions, the judge noted that the offences were at the lower end of the criminal scale because there was no premeditated plan to meet the girls in person.

Finnerty was sentenced to three years in prison for the first offence and two and a half years for the second, with both sentences to run concurrently. The court suspended the final 18 months of each sentence, meaning he would serve less time if he complied with certain conditions. Additionally, Finnerty was ordered to undergo supervision by the probation service for 12 months following his release.

Following the sentencing, the parents of the victims expressed their disappointment, feeling that the punishment was too lenient given the nature of Finnerty’s crimes. The case highlights ongoing concerns about online grooming and the exploitation of vulnerable minors through social media platforms, especially in rural areas like Co Galway, where such incidents continue to raise alarm among communities and authorities alike.