AUSTIN QUIGG FROM DUNGIVEN INVOLVED IN CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND WEB CAM ABUSE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Dungiven, a man named Austin Quigg, aged 28, has been implicated in a series of heinous crimes involving the exploitation of young girls through online platforms. The allegations against Quigg, who resides on Curragh Road in Dungiven, came to light during a court hearing where he pleaded guilty to multiple serious charges related to child abuse and online misconduct.

According to the prosecution, Quigg engaged in a pattern of predatory behavior that involved impersonating well-known television personalities to manipulate and coerce young girls into performing explicit acts during live webcam sessions. The court was informed that his actions targeted girls as young as six years old, with victims ranging from very young children to teenagers in their early and mid-teens. The severity of the offenses was underscored by the fact that Quigg used these false identities to lure and exploit vulnerable minors, encouraging them to strip and engage in sexualized conduct on camera.

The case was initiated after a report from one of the victims in November 2011. The girl, who was in contact with Quigg, disclosed that he had threatened to send indecent images of her to her boyfriend, a threat he carried out. This report prompted an investigation by Staffordshire Police, which later expanded to Northern Ireland. In March 2012, authorities executed a search at Quigg’s residence in Dungiven, seizing his personal computer and another device provided by his mother, who cooperated with the investigation.

Analysis of the seized devices revealed a disturbing collection of material, including 90 indecent videos and 609 photographs of children. The content was classified predominantly at the lower end of severity, but the sheer volume of material underscored the extent of Quigg’s offending. The police investigation uncovered that Quigg used online chat platforms to search for females aged between 13 and 60 from various countries, engaging in conversations while assuming the identities of two well-known TV personalities. He sent videos in which he appeared to be one of these personalities, doing so thousands of times in an attempt to attract and manipulate young girls.

Quigg’s criminal activities extended beyond online chats. He actively encouraged the victims to expose themselves and coerced them into performing sexual acts, which he recorded. These recordings formed part of the evidence presented in court. When arrested in October 2013, Quigg admitted to his involvement immediately, but the investigation into his crimes continued for another three years, highlighting the complexity and scale of his offending.

During the hearing, Quigg’s defense lawyer, Eoghan Devlin, described his client’s actions as reprehensible and inexcusable, acknowledging the societal outrage and the serious nature of the crimes. Despite the gravity of his offenses, the defense highlighted that Quigg had not re-offended since his arrest. An experienced probation officer testified that Quigg’s remorse appeared genuine and sincere, noting that he had suffered significant personal consequences, including losing his job, his life in England, and engaging in self-harm.

Judge Philip Babington announced that sentencing would take place the following Friday, and he released Quigg on continuing bail until then. The case remains a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online predators and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable children from exploitation.