A 59-year-old man has been handed a three-year probation order after he tried to groom a child online during an undercover police operation.

Nicholas Finton O'Brien, of Oakham Street in west Belfast, pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and attempted communication with a child. The offences took place between November and December 2024.

Belfast Crown Court heard that a serving law enforcement officer posed as a 14-year-old boy named Reece on the apps Grindr and Snapchat. The officer used the name Mandy in what was described as an authorised operation to identify people committing child sexual abuse and exploitation.

O'Brien first asked Reece if he was ok with older guys and requested a picture. Reece sent an image of himself in a school uniform. O'Brien did not send pictures at that stage, saying Reece was too young.

Later in November, O'Brien engaged in sexualised conversation with Reece, discussing sexual acts and fantasies. Despite Reece reminding O'Brien of his age, O'Brien sent five images including a picture of his genitals. Reece sent a selfie wearing a white shirt.

On 26 November, O'Brien continued sexualised conversation and asked Reece for a picture of his genitals. He sent three more sexualised images. Over the following days, they discussed sexual fantasies and arrangements to meet.

A meeting was arranged at a Belfast shopping centre in December. O'Brien was arrested as he sat in his car outside a fast food outlet.

During police interview, O'Brien admitted the offending and said he was ashamed. He acknowledged sending photographs and sexualised conversations, which he described as banter driven by curiosity.

O'Brien told a probation officer he had arranged to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old boy. He said he had questioned his sexuality over the years and had online and in-person encounters with men. He described his behaviour as disgusting but said he had no sexual interest in children and wanted to meet the teenager out of curiosity without specific intention.

The court heard O'Brien, a father of one, has undergone counselling since his arrest and remains married. He had no previous criminal record and cooperated fully with police. The Probation Board assessed him as low risk of reoffending and not a danger to the public.

Alongside probation, O'Brien will be on the sex offenders register for five years and subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for the same period.