NIALL MULDOON JAILED IN BELFAST FOR ONLINE GROOMING AND ATTEMPTED MEETING IN JONESBOROUGH

In April 2021, a disturbing case unfolded involving Niall Muldoon, a 40-year-old man from Jonesborough, Co Armagh, who traveled to Belfast with malicious intent during the COVID-19 lockdown. Muldoon, a father of four, believed he was heading to Belfast to meet a 13-year-old girl for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. Instead, he was met with law enforcement officers who had been monitoring his online activities and had set a trap for him.

Muldoon’s residence is located in Francis Jordan Park, Jonesborough, and he was apprehended in the car park of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. His arrest followed a series of online conversations that revealed his intentions. During the court proceedings, Belfast Crown Court heard that Muldoon had engaged in highly sexualized online chats with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl named Abbie. These conversations spanned over four days, from June 11 to June 17, 2020.

When questioned by police, Muldoon claimed, “I have kids of my own… I’m not a paedophile or anything like that,” attempting to deny any predatory intent. However, the evidence presented showed that he had sent explicit images of a sexual nature to the fictitious girl, 'Abbie,' and had requested similar images in return. He also made arrangements to meet her at the hospital car park, with the explicit goal of engaging in sexual intercourse.

It was revealed that Muldoon falsely claimed to be 26 years old during these online exchanges, although he was actually 39 at the time. His actions culminated in his traveling to Belfast, where he believed he would meet the girl, only to be arrested upon arrival. His mobile phone was seized as evidence, confirming his intentions and the nature of his communications.

During the court hearing, Judge Donna McColgan QC sentenced Muldoon to three years in prison, with the first year to be served behind bars. Following his release, he will be subject to a two-year period on licence, during which he will participate in the Probation Board’s Horizon programme aimed at addressing his offending behavior. The court also considered the imposition of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, and social services will intervene regarding Muldoon’s own children.

Legal representatives for Muldoon, including his defence barrister Thomas O’Keefe, described the case as “unusual.” O’Keefe explained that prior to his arrest, Muldoon’s marriage had ended after his wife discovered his online activities involving adult chatrooms. Following the breakdown of his marriage, Muldoon moved in with his parents and began to excessively use alcohol and cannabis. The barrister emphasized that the pressures of the pandemic lockdown and his loss of employment contributed to his behavior, which he described as “entirely out of character.”

Since his arrest, Muldoon has reportedly ceased misusing alcohol and drugs and has not re-offended. O’Keefe concluded by stating that his client “has destroyed everything… he has destroyed the entire family unit,” highlighting the profound impact of his actions on his family and community in Jonesborough and Belfast.