DAD OF 4 TRIED TO MEET CHILD FOR SEX

Pervert who travelled miles to meet girl handed 3-year jail term

A Father-of-four who drove miles with the intention of having sex with a 13-year old girl was jailed yesterday.

Belfast Crown Court heard when Niall David Muldoon was arrested in a car park in the city where he thought he was meeting the child, he told police: “I have kids of my own. I’m not a paedophile.”

Prior to his arrest last June, the 40-year-old, of Francis Jordan Park in Jonesborough, Co Armagh, embarked on highly sexualised online conversation with “Abbie” which went on over four days. He claimed he was 26 – when at the time he was 39.

He also sent images of a sexual nature and requested she send him images in return.

“Abbie” was ficticious and when Muldoon arrived at the car park of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, he was arrested and his phone seized.

Prosecutor David Russell said from the Probation report, it appeared he had “remorse for himself ... as opposed to remorse for harm he could have caused”.

Requesting the pervert be made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, Mr

Russell said there will be social services intervention regarding Muldoon’s own children.

Defence barrister Thomas O’keefe branded the offending as “unusual”. He revealed prior to his arrest, Muldoon’s marriage had broken down after his wife discovered he had been using online adult chatrooms.

Mr O’keefe said his client also abused alcohol and cannabis.

This, the barrister said, coupled with Muldoon’s loss of employment and lockdown, contributed to him acting “entirely out of character”.

Judge Donna Mccolgan handed him a three-year sentence, made him the subject of a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order and placed him on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

Muldoon will spend a year in prison, followed by a two-year period on licence.

I have kids of my own. I’m not a paedophile or anything NIALL DAVID MULDOON BELFAST JUNE LAST YEAR