Ex-member of Defence Forces in court for taking intimate photo of 18-year-old without her consent

The woman was starting to get dressed when Henry Carey took a photo of her without her consent. She was entirely naked in the image, which he saved on his phone, the court heard

Henry Carey was discharged from the army shortly before this offence, the court heard. Stock picture

A former member of the Defence Forces who took an intimate photo of an 18-year-old woman without her consent is to be assessed for community service.

Henry Carey, aged 27, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of possessing an intimate image of the then-18 year-old woman without her consent at his home in Conroy Park, Kilcullen, Co Kildare, on September 25, 2023.

Anne Rowland, prosecuting, said the then 24-year-old Carey had spent the night with the woman after he matched with her on Snapchat and invited her to come over to his house. The pair were unknown to each other prior to that.

The next morning, the woman was starting to get dressed when Carey took a photo of her without her consent. She was entirely naked in the image, which he saved on his phone, the court heard.

When Carey was arrested, the image was found on his phone. He has three previous convictions including for careless driving and failing to remain at the scene of a hit and run.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt queried why Carey took the photo at all, asking: “Was the night itself not enough for him?” 

 Eoghan Cole, defending, said it was “a rotten thing to do”.

He said his client was discharged from the army shortly before this offence and was abusing alcohol and cocaine at the time. He served in Syria which led to mental health issues, the court heard.

Mr Justice Hunt noted that given there is a maximum sentence of 12 months for the offence and Carey pleaded guilty, a six-month sentence would mean he only spends a few days in jail in reality.

He said community service would be a more appropriate punishment for Carey given the circumstances. 

He adjourned the case to February to allow for a Probation Services report.