Teen troll escalates to threat to ‘disfigure’ second woman journalist

A Dublin teenager awaiting sentence for online harassment of a BBC reporter has admitted threatening to disfigure another journalist after an “escalation” in his behaviour.

In September, the 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to harassing BBC News Northern Ireland’s Aileen Moynagh between October 25th, 2020, until the end of February last year.

The boy, who has a range of complex disorders and cannot be identified because he is a minor, stalked her online after developing an “obsessive crush”.

The teen had been previously cautioned about similar trolling of two female RTÉ staffers and had an “unhealthy interest” in women journalists.

After a one-month adjournment, the case resumed at the Dublin Children’s Court. He entered an additional guilty plea to threatening to harm another broadcast journalist, who was not named during the proceedings.

He made the threat on November 9th last to a garda and two other people at a youth justice project, intending them to believe he would cause her serious harm.

The court heard the teenager confessed to previously hiding in bushes on the grounds of her workplace in Dublin and that he watched her drive out of a car park.

Detective Garda Michael McCallion said the boy threatened that he had wanted to disfigure her.

Defence solicitor Eoghan O’Sullivan described it as an escalation of the teen’s behaviour. He had believed injuring the woman would help him cope with his obsession because she would not be able to work.

Mr O’Sullivan outlined how child mental health services diagnosed that it was not a mental health issue, and the boy’s case was referred to disability services.

The latest journalist he targeted did not give a statement and was not required to attend the court proceedings.

Services

Questioned by the solicitor, a HSE official conceded the teenager needed a residential therapeutic placement. They identified an appropriate facility, however, budget issues prevented it from being available.

So instead, they offered “wraparound services”, including cognitive behaviour therapy, in the community.

HSE officials told the court they were unaware of the court proceedings until reports appeared in the news media.

The teen’s father voiced his frustration at a lack of multidisciplinary help for his son.

Addressing the court, he told Judge Paul Kelly he pleaded with mental health services for years, but the level of support received was inadequate. He described the developments as a “self-fulfilling prophesy”.

He told the court a behavioural analyst had also felt that the services offered to his son were insufficient.

“They have been talking about it for six years, and nothing has changed,” he said, adding, “I’m sorry for my tone.”

The case resumes later this month when updated welfare reports will be furnished to the court.

The youth remains on bail with conditions restricting his movements and internet access.