A Kerry man has admitted to sexually abusing multiple children over the space of two and a half years.
34-year-old Michael O’Sullivan of Ballintleave, Killorglin, pleaded guilty to 22 sample counts at Tralee Circuit Court.
Mr O’Sullivan was described in court as a vulnerable man, with a mild intellectual disability.
Mr O’Sullivan pleaded guilty to seven sample counts of obtaining multiple children for the purpose of sexually exploiting them.
He further pleaded guilty to four sample counts of sexually assaulting the children and four sample counts of inviting the children to sexual touching.
Mr O’Sullivan admitted to four sample counts of sexual activity in the presence of a child, and four counts of communicating with other persons to facilitate child sexual exploitation.
The offending occurred in various locations around Kerry, including public toilets at Library Place in Killorglin and in the Manor West Shopping Centre in Tralee, as well as car parks including outside Lidl on the Castlemaine Road in Tralee and at Ballyseedy Woods.
The crimes also happened at other various addresses, including the Killarney Outlet Centre and at home addresses in Kerry.
The offending which Mr O’Sullivan admitted occurred on unknown dates within a two-and-a-half-year period.
Mr O’Sullivan was described as a vulnerable man by his Senior Counsel Donal O’Sullivan, with barrister Katie O’Connell, instructed by solicitor Eimear Griffin from the office of Pádraig O’Connell in Killarney.
The court heard he has a physical disability and very low cognitive ability, and would be in the bottom one per cent of the population, with a mild intellectual disability.
The court heard this investigation has been ongoing for a considerable amount of time, and all children referenced have been taken into care.
At the request of his barrister, Judge Ronan Munro adjourned sentencing to request reports from Mr O’Sullivan’s GP, a probation report, and a report from his counsellor.
Two other co-accused in the case, women in their 20s and 40s who cannot be named at this juncture, will appear in court next month.
