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Gardaí in Cork are appealing to young people who are being blackmailed over intimate images or videos to come forward and report the crime. The warning follows a rise in cases of sextortion, where individuals are coerced into paying money to prevent the release of sexually explicit content shared online.
📌 Nature of the Threat
Chief Superintendent Vincent O’Sullivan, of the Cork County Garda Division, said victims are often targeted after sharing sexual content with individuals they met online. The blackmail demands typically range from €500 to several thousand euro, with threats to distribute the material to friends and family.
“This is a serious issue,” O’Sullivan said. “Our advice is to shut it down, reset your phone, and report it. You don’t know what kind of programmes may be running in the background.”
🧠 Psychological Impact and Underreporting
While Cork Gardaí handled around a dozen cases last year, O’Sullivan believes many more victims remain silent due to shame or fear. He stressed that some victims across Ireland and Northern Ireland have tragically taken their own lives as a result of sextortion.
“The perpetrators only have power if you engage,” he said. “Once you stop responding, you take that power away.”
🧒 Support for Young People
O’Sullivan urged young people to speak to someone they trust — a parent, friend, or Garda officer. “They are not in trouble with us. Their wellbeing is our priority.”
He acknowledged that even smaller sums, such as €500, can be significant for teenagers, making them particularly vulnerable.
📊 National Trends
According to Hotline.ie, Ireland’s national centre for reporting illegal online content:
- 2023 saw a 210% increase in sextortion reports, with 274 cases recorded.
- In 2024, reports fell to 62 cases, with 83% involving male victims and 15% involving minors under 18.
Hotline.ie achieved a 95% removal rate for intimate image abuse content, despite most material being hosted outside Ireland.
⚖️ International Case Highlights Dangers
In a 2017 case, a Romanian national was sentenced to four years in prison for blackmailing Ronan Hughes, a 17-year-old from Tyrone. Hughes died by suicide after being tricked into sharing intimate images with someone posing as a girl online. The investigation involved cooperation between the PSNI, Romanian Police, and Europol, and remains a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of online exploitation.
Gardai-Irish-Police-by-William-Murphy
