A 59-year-old man has received a three-year probation order after attempting to sexually groom a child during an undercover police operation in Belfast. Nicholas Finton O'Brien, of Oakham Street off the Falls Road in west Belfast, pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming conducted through messaging apps Grindr and Snapchat. According to court records, Belfast Recorder Judge Philip Gilpin imposed the sentence on Friday, with O'Brien also placed on the sex offenders register for five years and made subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) for an identical period.
O'Brien, originally from County Waterford, also admitted a charge of attempted communication with a child. The offences occurred between 19 November and 4 December 2024, during what the court described as an "authorised operation" designed to identify individuals committing child sexual abuse and exploitation offences.
How did the undercover operation work?
A serving law enforcement officer operating under the alias "Mandy" posed as a 14-year-old boy named "Reece" from Northern Ireland on the social media platforms Grindr and Snapchat. O'Brien initiated contact by asking the teenager if he was "ok with older guys". When the officer, posing as Reece, sent a photograph of himself in school uniform, O'Brien declined to reciprocate at that stage, stating:
Because you are too young.
Later in November, the nature of the exchanges escalated significantly. O'Brien engaged in sexualised conversation with the teenager, discussing sexual acts and fantasies. When Reece reminded O'Brien of his purported age, O'Brien sent five images, including a photograph of his genitals. The teenager responded with a selfie wearing a white shirt.
On 26 November, O'Brien continued the sexualised dialogue and requested an explicit image from Reece. He then transmitted three additional sexualised images. Over the following two days, he discussed sexual fantasies with the teenager and proposed arrangements for a meeting, repeatedly reminding O'Brien that he was only 14 years old.
What happened when a meeting was arranged?
In December, O'Brien agreed to meet the teenager at a Belfast shopping centre the following day. However, he was arrested as he sat in his car outside a fast-food outlet before the meeting could take place. According to the case report, O'Brien had honoured all bail conditions and cooperated fully with police following his arrest.
How did O'Brien respond to the allegations?
During his police interview, O'Brien admitted to the offending and expressed shame at his actions. He acknowledged sending photographs and recognised the sexualised nature of his conversations with Reece, characterising them as
banterand attributing his behaviour to
curiosity. When speaking to a probation officer, O'Brien confirmed that he had engaged in sexual communications and arranged to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old boy.
O'Brien told the probation service that he had questioned his sexuality over the years and had engaged in online conversations with men, meeting some for sexual encounters. He described his behaviour as
disgusting, but maintained that he did not harbour sexual interest in children. He claimed he wanted to meet the teenager out of curiosity and had no specific intention when arranging the meeting.
What mitigating factors did the court consider?
O'Brien's defence highlighted several factors in his favour. His legal team noted that following his arrest, he had undergone counselling, which remains ongoing. They also pointed out that O'Brien and his wife remained married, and that he raised no objection to the terms of the Sexual Offences Prevention Order. The defence emphasised that nearly 18 months had passed since the offence without any further criminal conduct, that O'Brien was a first-time offender, and that he had maintained compliance with all bail conditions while cooperating with police.
According to the Probation Board assessment, O'Brien possessed a clear criminal record, was assessed as presenting a low likelihood of reoffending, and did not pose a danger to the public. These factors appeared to influence the judge's decision to impose a probation order rather than a custodial sentence.
What are the ongoing restrictions?
As part of his sentence, O'Brien will remain on the sex offenders register for five years and will be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) for the same duration. The three-year probation order requires him to comply with conditions set by the Probation Board as part of his community supervision.
Key Facts
- Nicholas Finton O'Brien, 59, pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming via Grindr and Snapchat between 19 November and 4 December 2024
- A serving police officer posed as a 14-year-old boy named "Reece" in an authorised operation to identify child sexual abuse offenders
- O'Brien sent explicit images and engaged in sexualised conversations before being arrested outside a fast-food outlet when attempting to meet the teenager
- He received a three-year probation order, five-year sex offenders register placement, and a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order
- The Probation Board assessed him as low risk for reoffending with no danger to the public
