Man jailed for sexually exploiting boy, 11, in public toilet 

He pleaded guilty to a charge that on September 24, 2022, he sexually exploited a child by inducing him to engage in any sexual, indecent, or obscene act. He also admitted other charges related to the possession and distribution of child pornography.

Detective Garda Craig Peterson said the 11-year-old went to the toilet and the woman minding him remained outside the door. However, when he was at the urinal, Mullan stepped out of a toilet cubicle and commented on the boy’s penis.

A moment later, he told the boy to show him his penis and although there was no violence or threat of violence, the boy was in fear and did show the man his penis before leaving the bathroom.

The accused had come down from Dublin and was homeless in Cork at the time of this offence.

Judge Boyle commented: “You had a difficult childhood. It is rare to come across someone as isolated as you appear to be and without supports.”

Element of denial

While the accused was getting on well in prison, the judge found that as well as anxiety and depression issues, there was still an element of denial about his motivation for the offence — probably attributable to shame and self-loathing, according to a psychological report.

The accused also admitted possession of child pornography at Summerstown Road, Wilton, when he was living there and a related offence at Sheila’s hostel, both offences in 2020. Four of the images were in the most serious category, 15 were in the second most serious, and more than 100 were suggestive images of children who were fully clothed.

The family boy and the boy himself — the subject of the exploitation charge — gave victim impact statements but did not attend court.

“Unsurprisingly, the family were very upset. He was a brave young boy to tell his parents as soon as possible. He drinks little or nothing when he goes to the cinema in case he has to go to the toilet. And his parents now are hyper-vigilant.

“On the day he was embarrassed. He did not understand. He felt much better when he told his parents. He did what he was told to do because he was in fear of the man,” Judge Boyle said.