Sex predators face jail for grooming

Sex predators will face jail terms of between 10 and 14 years for using the internet to groom minors or force them to share explicit images, under laws aimed at strengthening child protection.

The heads of the Sexual Offences Bill 2014 also proposes to strengthen the existing offence of meeting a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said the new offences “reflect the reality that predatory sexual activity to target children can now take place online or via social media”.