Boy, 15, is ‘kidnapped’ at county Limerick playground, court hears

A MAN who had previously entered a seminary in Poland was “clearly seeking out young boys for his own sexual gratification”, according to a senior Limerick detective.

The accused collected a 15-year-old boy at a playground in County Limerick who he had met earlier that day on Grindr - the world's largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people.

The teenager got out of the defendant’s car while stopped at a red light in Limerick city and told the driver of the vehicle behind that he had been “kidnapped”, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

Daniel Lasota, aged 44, of Carr Street, Limerick city pleaded guilty to one count of meeting a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation and two counts of using information and communication technology to facilitate sexual exploitation of a child contrary to Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.

Lily Buckley BL, instructed by State solicitor Aidan Judge, outlined the case with the assistance of Detective Sergeant Michael Reidy.

Ms Buckley said the victim and accused were texting and exchanging photos on the Grindr app on a date in August, 2019. The court heard Mr Lasota drove to an agreed meeting place of a playground in County Limerick and collected the boy.

“He (victim) found himself being driven by the accused to Limerick city. A member of the public happened to be stopped at traffic lights in the Greenfields area. He said a boy aged 13 or 14 got out of the car in front and knocked on his window. The boy asked could he get into the man’s car. He told him, ‘I think I've been kidnapped’,” said Ms Buckley.

Det Sgt Reidy said the lights happened to be red and the victim saw an opportunity to leave the car driven by Mr Lasota.

The prosecuting barrister said Mr Lasota kept driving. A squad car passed by and the member of the public explained to gardai that the boy said he had been kidnapped, said Ms Buckley.

Det Sgt Reidy said gardai received a partial reg and that the car was a black Volvo. An evofit, or police sketch, was made with the assistance of the victim. Det Sgt Reidy said Mr Lasota was arrested “through a process of elimination” five days later.

“The child’s engagement with gardai was crucial to that,” said Det Sgt Reidy.

Specialist garda interviewers met with the boy. Ms Buckley said he told them he downloaded the Grindr app as he was a bit confused who he was sexually. The boy told gardai when he was in the car, “I just kept asking myself what I was doing? I didn’t know the consequences”.

Det Sgt Reidy said the victim purported to be 18 when he set up his Grindr profile, which is a necessity on that site, but when

Mr Lasota met him at the playground “it was clear he was of tender years”.

A photo of the boy was briefly shown to Judge Dermot Sheehan. “He looks very young,” said the judge.

After Mr Lasota was arrested, information was downloaded from his phone and from his Grindr profile. Ms Buckley said this refers to the second count of using information and communication technology to facilitate sexual exploitation of a child.

The barrister said Mr Lasota was in contact with a profile called “Young” two weeks before the boy was in his car going to the city.

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“Young” told Mr Lasota he was “minding his little cousin for the evening”. Mr Lasota offered to pay for sex, said Ms Buckley. “Young” didn’t respond after this.

The court heard Mr Lasota told gardai during interviews that the boy he collected at the playground told him he was 16 and a half but that he didn’t believe him. He told gardai they were going to go for food and would bring the boy home as he wanted to be home for 8pm.

Gardai asked him during the interview if it was a good idea to have a child in his car and have sexual conversations with him.

“No,” said Mr Lasota.

At the end of his evidence, Det Sgt Reidy said Mr Lasota was “clearly seeking out young boys for his own sexual gratification”.

The detective sergeant said the boy found himself in a vulnerable place in August 2019 but has moved on with his life and is now in gainful employment.

Yvonne Quinn BL, who represented Mr Lasota, put it to Det Sgt Reidy that her client was full, frank and cooperative in interviews. The detective sergeant agreed, saying the accused provided the password to his phone.

“He said he made a mistake and knows he shouldn’t have done it. He said it was totally wrong,” said Ms Quinn.

Det Sgt Reidy said on the day Mr Lasota saw the risk and “disregarded the risk”.

Ms Quinn said her client has instructed her to convey his deepest apologies and especially to the complainant.

“He has never been in court before in Poland or Ireland. He finds himself here, is full of contrition and is profoundly ashamed of his actions. He takes full responsibility. He gave remarkably candid interviews and there was a high level of cooperation,” said

Ms Quinn, who spoke of the value of the guilty plea so the victim didn’t have to give evidence.

Ms Quinn handed in counselling and psychological reports which indicate a zero to low risk of reoffending.

“He has been in Ireland since 2007. He is a self-employed accountant. He excelled academically and has worked and studied throughout his life. He entered a seminary in 1999 but left as it didn’t comply with his own personal and sexual development,” said Ms Quinn.

She said the age of consent is 16 in Poland but he knew that it is 17 in Ireland and “thought he looked young”.

“He wasn’t thinking straight at the time. He has been open, transparent and is profoundly ashamed. He deeply regrets it and welcomes that the injured party has moved on with his life,” said Ms Quinn.

Judge Sheehan said he was “going to have to think about this” and adjourned matters until a date in March for judgement.

He stressed reporting restrictions regarding the identity of the victim.