A MAN who abused 40 young boys over a period of ten years has been jailed in Northern Ireland.
Gerard Murray, of the Strabane area, was sentenced at Dungannon Crown Court today for 152 child sexual abuse offences.
They included sexual communication with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to watch a sexual act and making an indecent photograph or pseudo of a child.
Murray’s offending spanned from 2010 to 2021 and involved 40 young male victims, ranging from eight to 17 years of age.
The court heard that the 35-year-old, whose address was given as Maghaberry Prison in Lisburn, posed as a teenage girl on Snapchat in order to manipulate his victims into sending him indecent images and videos of themselves.
He was sentenced to 10 years, of which he will serve five years in prison and five years on licence, and will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for an indefinite period and be subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) indefinitely.
Murray will also be placed on a barring list preventing him from working with children and vulnerable adults.
Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Lorraine McCutcheon said: “Murray targeted young boys, as young as eight years old, posing as a teenage girl on Snapchat.
“He manipulated them into sending indecent images and videos of themselves that he would then record and save for his own sexual gratification.
“He has caused serious and long-lasting harm on the many boys that he preyed upon and their families. I want to thank them today for being so incredibly brave and assisting our investigations.”
She added: “Crimes of this nature are not tolerated in our society and we as a Police Service will never stop working hard to bring perpetrators to justice.
“If you have suspicions that someone you know or live with is engaging in any sort of sexual communication with a child please contact 101 or 999 in an emergency.”
Following the conclusion of the case, the PSNI has urged young people who may have been targeted or abused in this way to come forward and report to them.
Det Chf Insp McCutcheon said: “We want parents/guardians and young people to be aware of how offenders like Murray operate online so that they can spot the red flags of predatory behaviours.
“It is so important to engage in regular conversations with children about the potential dangers online to ensure they can enjoy the internet safely.
“We’re asking parents and guardians of young people to stop and think – do you know who they are talking to online?
“We have put helpful tips on our website including, how to set and check privacy settings, location and parental controls and checking your child’s direct messages and chat functions.”
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