RTE producer ‘was sending lewd messages to a fictional 13-year-old girl’
AN RTÉ sport producer allegedly sent a crude sexual message to someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl, a court has heard.
It is claimed Kieran Creaven, 55, flew from Dublin to Leeds to meet up at a hotel with the girl, whose identity was fake and created by a group of so- called paedophile hunters known as Predator Exposure.
Mr Creaven i s accused of attempting to meet a child following grooming for a sexual purpose and of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, namely kissing and cuddling.
The offences were said to have taken place from July 1 – when the defendant allegedly first con- tacted the fictional girl online – to last Saturday when he arrived at the hotel in the city.
Jill Seddon, prosecuting, told Leeds Magistrates’ Court yesterday that Mr Creaven said in one message he ‘felt horny’ and he also sent a photo of an erect penis.
Mr Creaven only spoke in court to confirm his name, date of birth and to indicate he understood the charges. Some people in the gallery shouted as he spoke. There was no indication of his plea.
Ms Seddon said: ‘He has been making contact online with a fictitious female who he believed to be 13-years-old. This is a matter that should be sent to crown court to be dealt with.’
A defence lawyer made an application to bail Mr Creaven to his home address here. The lawyer
Accused suspended by broadcaster
said :‘ While this is a serious offence, it is not unusual for defendants to be granted bail in more serious matters.
‘He has never been in trouble before and has never experienced this type of situation.’ The appli- cation for conditional bail was granted, and Mr Creaven will appear in court next month.
Under his bail conditions, he must stay at an address here that was given to the court.
Meanwhile, gardaí yesterday searched Mr Creaven’s Dublin home and are now ‘ working closely’ with police in Britain.
It is understood that officers seized a computer and other electronic items yesterday, at the home he shares his wife. The Garda National Protective Services Bureau launched an investigation into Mr Creaven on foot of a request from police in Leeds in northern England.
A trawl through his electronic devices could t ake s everal months.
Sources say there is now an ‘entirely separate’ garda probe into Mr Creaven’s activities. This includes his international travel as well as his social media accounts, one of which has now been suspended.
In a statement, RTÉ yesterday said: ‘ RTÉ can confirm the individual in question is suspended until further notice. RTÉ cannot comment further at this time.’
Mr Creaven worked as the national broadcaster’s live studio programme editor for two FIFA World Cups and was the on-location team leader for Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. He also served as the on-location producer for the London Olympics in 2012.