A 33-year-old former tennis coach from Co Leitrim has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for multiple child sex offences in the UK.

Sean Francis McGranaghan, of Mill Apartments, Dromahair, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of attempting sexual communication with a child and two counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

McGranaghan, who had pleaded not guilty, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court following an investigation by the UK’s South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) last month.

Detective Inspector David Wells, from SWROCU’s Online Investigations Team, said: “Sean McGranaghan is a dangerous individual who has never admitted any liability for his heinous crimes.”

He added: “The judge handed him a significant custodial sentence in response to this and I am pleased he will no longer pose a risk to children whilst incarcerated.”

McGranaghan first came to the attention of SWROCU after making contact online with whom he thought was a child but was a specialist covert officer in January 2023.

The unit confirmed to RTÉ News that he was residing in Ireland when he first came to its attention.

McGranaghan also came to the attention of covert officers within the Metropolitan Police area later last year, again communicating online with whom he believed was a real child.

He was arrested at Gatwick Airport in May 2023 by SWROCU officers from the Online Investigations Team. He resided on bail in the UK while awaiting court proceedings.

McGranaghan worked as a tennis coach in the north west of Ireland in recent years.

No indication of inappropriate conduct at Sligo Tennis Club

Sligo Tennis Club issued a statement to members in which it said it had been “advised by Tennis Ireland that Sean McGranaghan, who previously coached at our club [September 2021-December 2022] has been convicted and sentenced to six and a half years in prison in England.”

It informed members of the details of the convictions and added there was no indication that any inappropriate conduct occurred at the club.

It added that it is “working to identify the children who attended coaching groups during the time Mr McGranaghan was coaching. We will be making every effort to contact all parents in due course.”

Sligo Tennis Club said that it “would like to take this opportunity to reassure all members that our club adheres strictly to all safeguarding requirements set forth by Sport Ireland, Tennis Ireland, Badminton Ireland and Irish Squash.”

It added that “as per safeguarding policies, Mr McGranaghan was garda vetted and had all appropriate Tennis Ireland coaching qualifications requirements.”

The club said that it remains “committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all our members and appreciate your cooperation in upholding these important standards.”

McGranaghan was given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sexual Offenders Register for life.

SWROCU said that he was not travelling from Ireland to the UK when arrested at Gatwick Airport.

The unit also confirmed that it engaged with An Garda Síochána regarding the case.

A garda spokesperson said that it “provides assistance to international police forces on receipt of formal requests, either through International Mutual Assistance requests or professional Police to Police requests. However, An Garda Síochána does not comment on the specific details of any request.”

SWROCU works alongside a UK network of undercover officers tackling offences online, including child sexual abuse and exploitation.