TOM HUMPHRIES, FORMER IRISH TIMES SPORTS WRITER, JAILED IN DUBLIN FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES
In October 2017, Tom Humphries, a 54-year-old former prominent sports journalist for the Irish Times, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for child sex offences.He had admitted to abusing a girl under the age of 17.
The sentencing took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on a Tuesday, where Humphries, from Sutton, Dublin, sat in the dock with his hand on his face as the judge issued her ruling.
Humphries had requested to be remanded in custody prior to the sentencing.
Previously, in July 2017, his sentencing for sexual exploitation and the defilement of a child was adjourned to October.
Humphries, who resided at Corr Castle, Sutton, Dublin, appeared briefly in court that day.
The former Irish Times journalist pleaded guilty in March of that year to six sexual offences involving a girl under 17.
His guilty pleas included two counts of defilement of a child, which occurred in Dublin between December 5, 2010, and February 19, 2011, and four counts of inviting a child to engage in a sexually explicit, obscene, or indecent act, between January 2010 and March 2011.
The case was set to go to trial on three additional charges involving another girl, but these charges were dropped last month by the prosecution.
Hugh Harnett SC, representing Humphries, informed Judge Karen O'Connor that the trial could not proceed as scheduled on July 26, as additional time was needed to prepare a report on his client.
The judge consequently adjourned the case to October 3.
At this stage, no evidence concerning the details of the offences has been presented, though these are expected to be disclosed during the sentencing hearing.
Harnett also requested that his client be excused from further case management dates on health grounds, but this request was denied.
