COLM TWOMEY SENTENCED IN CORK FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON BEBO-CONNECTED TEENAGER

In a case that has shocked the community of Cork, a 39-year-old man named Colm Twomey has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old boy he met through the popular social networking site Bebo. The incident, which took place in Cork, has brought to light the dangers associated with online interactions and the predatory behavior of some individuals seeking to exploit vulnerable youths.

Twomey, who resides in both Ballincollig and Togher, was described by Judge Sean Ó Donnabháin as having engaged in predatory conduct during his use of Bebo. The court heard that Twomey, an unemployed man who is married but has no children, initiated contact with the young boy on June 18, 2007. At the time, the boy was home alone and, after establishing communication through Bebo, he shared his phone number with Twomey. Subsequently, Twomey made a phone call to the boy, obtained his home address, and later visited his residence, where he committed the sexual assault.

Following the incident, the victim reported the assault to Gardaí, leading to Twomey's arrest and subsequent conviction by a jury after a two-day trial. Detective Garda Gary Duggan provided evidence on how Twomey was identified and traced through phone records, which confirmed his contact with the boy. The victim, in his testimony, described the aftermath of the assault as the most difficult period of his life, revealing that his relationships have suffered and that he continues to struggle with anger management and panic attacks.

Judge Ó Donnabháin expressed his clear judgment that Twomey had recognized the age of the boy but chose not to cease his predatory behavior. The judge emphasized that Twomey should have stopped once he realized the boy was a minor, but he failed to do so. As part of his sentence, Twomey was ordered to serve 18 months in prison, with a further 18 months suspended on the condition that he remains under the supervision of the Probation and Welfare Service for three years following his release. Additionally, Twomey will be placed on the sex offenders register, reflecting the seriousness of his actions and the need for ongoing monitoring to protect the community from potential future offenses.