A former coach at Sligo Tennis Club has been jailed for multiple child sex offences in the UK.

Sean McGranaghan was sentenced to six and a half years in prison at Bristol Crown Court last month.

Mr McGranaghan, with an address at Mill Apartments, Dromahair, Co. Leitrim, coached at Sligo Tennis club between September 2021 and December 2022. He first came to the attention of UK police in May 2023, after making contact with who he believed was a child, but was actually a specialist police officer.

He came to the attention of police again later that year, attempting to contact who he believed to be a child for the second time.

Mr McGranaghan was arrested at Gatwick Airport in May 2023. At his trial in Bristol Crown Court, he pleaded not-guilty to four charges, two counts of attempting sexual communication with a child, and two counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

He was found guilty by a jury of all four counts, and was sentenced to six and a half years in prison last month.

In a statement, Sligo Tennis Club say they have no indication at this time that any inappropriate behaviour occurred during Mr McGranaghan’s time at the club. The club say they are working to identify the children who attended coaching groups with him, and will be making every effort to contact the parents of the children in question.

Sligo Tennis Club also say that they strictly adhere to all safeguarding measures set out by Sport Ireland and Tennis Ireland, and that Mr McGranaghan had all the necessary Tennis Ireland coaching qualifications, and was Garda vetted.

The statement concludes by saying that Sligo Tennis Club remain committed to maintaing a safe and supportive environment for all members, and thanks members for their cooperation in upholding their standards.