Cork man caught sending sexual images to children in sting operation jailed

Guilty man minimised the offences, describing messages as 'harmless fun'

Judge Helen Boyle imposed a sentence of three-and-a-half years with the last 18 months suspended at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, on Patrick Linehan, previously of Comeragh Park, The Glen, Cork.

A 70-year-old Cork man was jailed for two years today after being caught in an online sting operation where he engaged in sexualised conversations and sent sexually explicit images to parties he was led to believe were 11 and 12-year-old girls.

When interviewed by the probation service ahead of sentencing he minimised the offences, describing them as “harmless fun”.