Man pleads guilty to attempted abduction of teen girl

A MAN has pleaded guilty to the attempted abduction of an Offaly teenaged girl as she cycled to her friend’s house on a summer’s evening earlier this year.

At Mullingar Circuit Court, Dermot Murphy, of Atlantic Coast Apartments, Riverstown, Tramore, Co Waterford, pleaded guilty to three offences committed at Moyclare, Ferbane, CoOffaly, on July 19.

He was arrested earlier this year, following reports that a man in a white van had pulled up beside the 13-year-old and engaged her in conversation before trying to pull her into it. She managed to escape following a brief struggle.

Murphy, 42, admitted attempted false imprisonment and that he assaulted the girl, causing her harm. He also admitted attempted child trafficking, in that he had tried to restrict the girl’s liberty for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Judge Tony Hunt agreed to a request from John Shortt, SC, that GP and psychiatric reports be certified under the Legal Aid scheme. Mr Shortt said his client would not be requesting bail.

Judge Hunt said Murphy may be named, lifting an order made by Judge Seamus Hughes when Murphy first appeared before the court in Athlone in July.