SHANE FLANAGAN

IRISH FORMER GARDA JAILED FOR ONLINE HARASSMENT AND INCITING RAPE

A former garda (Irish police officer) who impersonated a female colleague online and encouraged strangers to rape her and her daughters has been jailed for seven years.

Shane Flanagan admitted two counts of inciting two men to rape the woman, who had been a friend, on dates between November and December 2020.

Flanagan also pleaded guilty to six counts of endangering the woman and her teenage daughters through his online communications and to possessing images of child sexual abuse material.

Imposing sentence at Dublin's Central Criminal Court, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced Flanagan to eight years in prison, with the final year suspended.

The court was told that Flanagan and the woman were both serving members of the Irish police service at the time.

Flanagan, who is 39 and has an address in County Clare, resigned from the force in March.

The woman was in significant shock upon discovering Flanagan was responsible for the harassment.

Police found nearly 700 images of the woman, including 219 altered images depicting her gagged, bound, and naked.

The judge described Flanagan's actions as a 'calculated, predatory act of violence' that caused lifelong scars for the victim and her daughters, showing a 'breath-taking disregard' for their safety and wellbeing.