Ex-diplomat jailed for 12 years after paying boy for sex

A HIGH-flying Trinity graduate and father-of-four has been jailed for more than 12 years in Australia for paying a boy thousands of dollars for sex.

John Finnin, who was born here and attended the Dublin university, has lived and worked in Australia for a number of years, including in roles as an Australian diplomat. Yesterday, he was found guilty of paying a 15-year-old boy he met through an internet chat site a total of almost AUS$2,000 (€1,170) to have sex with him on a number of occasions.

As well as lavishing the youth with gifts, he regularly drove the teenager in his Maserati sports car, and, at one point, when the boy asked for a AUS$1,000 (€585) loan, told him he could “work it off”.