A football coach from Omagh has been sentenced to five months in prison for engaging in sexual communication with a child on his team. Alex McElhatton, 24, of Coolnagard Rise denied the charge but was convicted after a contested hearing at Omagh Magistrates Court.

The child's mother discovered the messages on the evening of 22 April 2025, continuing into the early hours of the next day. She contacted police and provided screenshots of the conversation, along with the device.

McElhatton was arrested and his phone seized. In police interview he admitted the messages were sexual but denied they were for sexual gratification. He told officers he was fully aware they were inappropriate.

At court, Deputy District Judge Sean O'Hare rejected his defence, stating that a football coach occupies a position of trust. The judge said the communication was deliberate and repeated, and that the young person was entitled to feel safe. He noted that sexual communication with a child can cause significant emotional harm and undermine a sense of safety.

Victim impact statements from the child's parents were described by the judge as heartfelt and genuine, identifying real-world effects on the child.

The defence highlighted that there was no physical contact and that McElhatton had been struggling with anxiety and depression. The judge accepted these mental health difficulties may have affected his judgement but said they did not diminish his responsibility to a significant degree.

McElhatton was ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for seven years and will be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for the same period.