A former Irish law enforcement officer has been handed a seven-year prison term after admitting to posing as a female colleague online and urging strangers to sexually assault her and her teenage daughters.
Shane Flanagan, 39, pleaded guilty to multiple offenses, including inciting rape and endangering the lives of the woman and her children through explicit online communications. He also admitted to possessing illegal images involving child exploitation.
The Dublin Central Criminal Court heard that Flanagan, who previously served with An Garda Síochána, created fake profiles on fetish websites and social media using the victim’s personal details and photographs. Under the guise of the woman, he engaged in graphic discussions about violent acts against her and her daughters, even sharing locations such as her home and jogging route.
The scheme unraveled in late 2020 when one of the men Flanagan had contacted grew suspicious and reached out to the real victim to verify her consent. Authorities later uncovered nearly 700 images of the woman in Flanagan’s possession, including digitally altered photos depicting her in degrading scenarios.
Justice Eileen Creedon condemned Flanagan’s actions as a “predatory and deliberate act of cruelty,” emphasizing his blatant disregard for the safety of the victims. Given his law enforcement background, she noted he should have been acutely aware of the dangers he was facilitating.
Flanagan, who resigned from the police force earlier this year, received an eight-year sentence with the final year suspended. The judge stressed that his crimes had inflicted lasting trauma on the victims.
The case has sparked outrage, underscoring the severe consequences of online harassment and exploitation.
