How was man with child porn conviction able to keep working in a rugby club?
Barman pleaded guilty to having hundreds of vile images in 2022 but worked in bar this year
A MAN convicted of having hundreds of child pornography images continued to work at a rugby club for months after pleading guilty to the offences, the Irish Mail on Sunday has learned.
Gavin O’Flynn, 38, was charged with possessing images of child pornography contrary to Section 6 (1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 on April 21, 2021.
He pleaded guilty to the charges at Cork Circuit Court on October 24, 2022. On June 6, 2023, he was sentenced by Judge Helen Boyle to an 18-month suspended sentence and entered a bond to keep the peace for the same period.
But despite pleading guilty, O’Flynn, of St Mary’s Avenue, Gurranabraher, Cork, continued to work at Ballincollig Rugby Club from October 2022 until January 2023, when he handed in his notice. He went back to work at the bar again from March to June of this year.
Parents at the club, which has around 300 youth members, were alerted to O’Flynn’s conviction around the time of his sentencing.
Some of the parents questioned the club as to why he continued to work there after he had pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography.
One parent expressed concern O’Flynn was working in the clubhouse and children would ‘regularly’ chat to him when buying packets of crisps and soft drinks.
The MoS understands Ballincollig RFC was unaware O’Flynn had pleaded guilty to possessing the images for the duration of time he was working there. The club also told concerned parents that vetting had been ‘diligently’ followed at all times.
Contacted by the MoS, O’Flynn said he ‘never touched’ or ‘went near’ any of the juvenile players, and stressed parents should not be concerned. He initially claimed we had the ‘wrong person’ before admitting he pleaded guilty to possessing the disturbing images.
Pressed on why he was denying the conviction, he eventually said: ‘Because I’m ashamed of it, that’s why. It’s not something you want to f***ing admit. I thought I had moved on from this.
‘I never touched… I never went near any players. I didn’t have anything to do with any of them. To be honest with you, you’re after shocking me, because I thought this had all gone away.’
When it was put to him parents at the club are concerned he was employed at the club after pleading guilty to the charge, he replied: ‘I left, I handed in my notice. I didn’t have these images in my possession [while working there], these images were taken off me long before that. I explained my situation all the way through the courts. These weren’t images I went out to take, these weren’t images I was interested in. I’m not into this stuff, I thought I had deleted them. It was a file, and it came through on an app.
‘It was a f*** up during the pandemic, a major f*** up. I did that job [at the club] because they needed me for that job. I tried to leave, but they couldn’t get anybody. So they asked me. Nobody knew about any of this. Even now I am denying it. I have confirmed it to nobody, and I don’t want to confirm this to anybody. My life has fallen apart because of this.’
He also questioned how this newspaper knew he had pleaded guilty to possession of the disturbing images.
‘There was no one in that courtroom. What about data protection? I do understand why [parents would be concerned] and I tried my best to stay as far away as I could. It wasn’t like I was showing up at underage training. I regret the whole thing, from day one I regretted it.
‘It was a one off, it was a big file obviously, but the moment I saw it I deleted it. It was during the pandemic… I was online talking to people and I downloaded this app. That is basically it. I thought I deleted it straight away that night. I nearly died [when the gardai arrived], like I am now talking to you.’
The MoS has learned Mr O’Flynn was on duty as bar manager in the clubhouse on nights the under 14, 16 and 18 youth nights were held earlier this year.
An informed source said: ‘At the time the committee is saying they didn’t know about this. And he is denying it by the way, he is absolutely denying it is him, [saying] “That’s not me, it’s mistaken identity.” And because it was never reported in the newspaper it has not been seen in black and white, and nobody can prove it was him for this reason.
‘The membership of the rugby club has never been told officially about his conviction, aside from rumour and whispers, which is not right.’
Contacted by the MoS the president of Ballincollig RFC, Jim Nyham, said: ‘I’m at work now at the moment darling, I’m up to my neck, I... what’s this in relation to?’
When it was put to him O’Flynn was employed by the club after being convicted of possessing the images of children, Mr Nyham replied: ‘First and foremost where did you get my number... we’ll just stop this conversation here. Thanks for the call, God bless.’
When contacted, the IRFU’s Director of Communication Aoife Clarke questioned whether there were reporting restrictions in the case prohibiting us from naming O’Flynn. There are not.
She went on to insist the IRFU has ‘robust procedures in place regarding the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and are fully compliant with all legislation in this area’.
‘All those involved in “relevant work”, that is work or activity that is carried out by a person, a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of the person having access to, or contact with, children or vulnerable adults are required to be vetted by the National Vetting Bureau.
‘Failure to successfully complete the process may result in disqualification from appointment to a position.’
‘I never touched... I never went near any players’