Chatroom-addicted retired garda sergeant admits sexual exploitation of a child

The court heard that O’Rourke had admitted that the thrill of being sexually explicit with an underage girl in a chat room “took over any reason.”

Thomas O’Rourke (pictured) had admitted engaging in several online chats of a sexualised nature five years ago with a girl he believed to be aged 13. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

A retired garda sergeant has pleaded guilty to a series of offences relating to child abuse imagery and the sexual exploitation of a child after engaging in sexualised conversations with undercover police purporting to be a young girl in an internet chat room.

A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court heard that Thomas O’Rourke, who had a self-confessed addiction to online chat rooms, had admitted engaging in several online chats of a sexualised nature five years ago with a girl he believed to be aged 13.