The sentencing of a man to 21 months for the new offence – which was enacted into law a year ago – comes as gardai reveal they are investigating 35 such incidents.

The Government must act urgently to ensure that the first conviction in a case of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Ireland becomes the last, a leading charity has warned.

Gardaí investigating attacks on sex workers have arrested four men.

Gardaí are warning sex workers about a roaming gang of men who are booking as individual clients but turning up in a group and violently robbing them of their earnings and valuables.

Gardaí have questioned 38 people on suspicion of having bought sex from a person involved in prostitution.

Gardaí have questioned 38 people on suspicion of having bought sex from a person involved in prostitution.

Irish Red Cross chairman and former Fianna Fáil minister Pat Carey has expressed his satisfaction with the Director of Public Prosecutions’ decision that he will not face prosecution in respect of abuse allegations widely publicised in 2015.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has ordered that former Fianna Fail minister Pat Carey will not face prosecution in respect of abuse allegations widely publicised in 2015.

Two experts have been appointed to the independent research study on familicide and domestic homicide.

Gardaí have stopped 36 people in an operation targeting the demand for prostitution.

Three teenage female college students have been raped in Cork since the start of the university term.

A specialist Garda hate crimes division should be set up to improve the reporting of offences and the quality of investigations, according to a submission to the Policing Commission.

Sixteen potential human trafficking victims have been identified by an organisation that has threatened the Government with High Court proceedings unless it halts a permit scheme used by the fishing industry.

Questions are being asked as to why a teenage girl was placed in an all-male ward at a Cork hospital where she was allegedly sexually assaulted by an older man.

Gardaí are continuing to investigate a former Tusla employee in relation to the alleged discovery of child abuse imagery on his computer.

The Garda’s top statistician twice sought, in vain, to get access to a Garda report for the Policing Authority on homicide figures — and was only granted sight of it a week-and-a-half after a public meeting with the authority.

Security Correspondent

Society must respond to risks of online child abuse, say groups.

The owners of the UK-registered fishing vessel detained in West Cork almost a fortnight ago over a number of irregularities has reportedly agreed to pay €23,000 in wages owed to Indonesian crew members.

Gardaí say there is “no doubt” that paedophiles in Ireland will import child sex dolls — and may already be doing so — and are examining if these objects are covered under Irish criminal laws.

Gardaí have learned from the management of sex offenders that ‘they are very controlling and find different ways to offend’, writes Cormac O’Keeffe

Online sex offenders are typically well-educated, in a relationship, and aged 25 to 50, according to the gardaí.

One In Four is well known for working with victims of sexual abuse. So many are shocked to learn it also reaches out to people who ‘exhibit sexually harmful behaviour towards children’. Caroline O’Doherty discovers how it’s all part of the work to protect all our children.

Gardaí are hoping to reduce deaths and serious injury from domestic and sexual violence with the introduction of specialised units manned by highly trained detectives, in Cork, Louth, and Dublin.

Gardaí intercepted and detained an escaped British sex offender as he was about to board a plane to Hungary yesterday morning.