Sentencing of journalist Tom Humphries adjourned

The sentencing of sports journalist Tom Humphries for the sexual exploitation and defilement of a child has been adjourned to October.

Humphries (54), of Corr Castle, Sutton, appeared briefly in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Monday.

The former Irish Times journalist pleaded guilty last March to six sexual offences against a girl under the age of 17.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of defilement of a child in Dublin between December 5th 2010 and February 19th 2011 and of four counts of inviting a child to participate in a sexually explicit, obscene or indecent act between January 2010 and March 2011.

He was due to stand trial in relation to three further charges involving a separate girl, but these charges were dropped by the prosecution last month.

Hugh Harnett SC, defending, told Judge Karen O’Connor that he was not in a position to proceed with the original sentence date of July 26th. He said further time was required in order to prepare a report in relation to his client.

Judge O’Connor adjourned the case to October 3rd.

No evidence has been heard yet regarding the circumstances of the offences. These details are expected to be disclosed at the sentencing hearing.

Mr Hartnett previously requested that his client be excused from further case management dates for health reasons, but the application was refused.