Alexander McCartney , a 26-year-old from Newry, Northern Ireland , has been sentenced to at least 20 years in prison for the manslaughter of a 12-year-old girl and for his extensive online abuse of at least 70 other children, reported the news agency AFP.
Prosecutors described McCartney as a “relentless and cruel” predator who used social media to manipulate and exploit vulnerable girls worldwide.
McCartney engaged in catfishing—posing as a teenage girl to lure victims on platforms like Snapchat. Authorities revealed he targeted approximately 3,500 girls, encouraging them to send intimate images and then blackmailing them with threats to share the photos.
During a court hearing, the prosecution detailed how McCartney's actions led to the suicide of Cimarron Thomas from West Virginia in May 2018. As he pressured her during an online chat, she tragically took her own life shortly after he issued threats.
“This is the first time someone has been convicted of manslaughter in a case where the victim and perpetrator never met,” said Catherine Kieran, acting head of the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service Serious Crime Unit.
The court heard that the trauma inflicted by McCartney's actions had far-reaching consequences, including mental health issues and self-harm among victims.
Justice O'Hara remarked on the catastrophic damage inflicted by McCartney's use of social media, stating, “There has not been a case such as the present where the defendant has used social media on an industrial scale to inflict such terrible and catastrophic damage.”
McCartney pleaded guilty to 185 charges, including manslaughter, blackmail, and sexual exploitation. His sentence, handed down at Belfast Crown Court , includes a life term with a minimum of 20 years before eligibility for parole.
The judge described McCartney's conduct as “truly difficult to comprehend,” noting the "remorseless" nature of his actions.
Detective Chief Superintendent Eamonn Corrigan of the Police Service of Northern Ireland emphasised the devastation caused, stating, “We cannot underestimate the devastation that he has caused and the childhoods he has stolen.”
The impact of McCartney's predatory behaviour on victims was profound, leading to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
Families of victims expressed their devastation, with Cimarron’s grandparents stating, “Our lives will never be the same. We didn’t get to see her graduate, walk down the aisle or have children.”
Prosecutors described McCartney as a “relentless and cruel” predator who used social media to manipulate and exploit vulnerable girls worldwide.
McCartney engaged in catfishing—posing as a teenage girl to lure victims on platforms like Snapchat. Authorities revealed he targeted approximately 3,500 girls, encouraging them to send intimate images and then blackmailing them with threats to share the photos.
During a court hearing, the prosecution detailed how McCartney's actions led to the suicide of Cimarron Thomas from West Virginia in May 2018. As he pressured her during an online chat, she tragically took her own life shortly after he issued threats.
“This is the first time someone has been convicted of manslaughter in a case where the victim and perpetrator never met,” said Catherine Kieran, acting head of the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service Serious Crime Unit.
The court heard that the trauma inflicted by McCartney's actions had far-reaching consequences, including mental health issues and self-harm among victims.
Justice O'Hara remarked on the catastrophic damage inflicted by McCartney's use of social media, stating, “There has not been a case such as the present where the defendant has used social media on an industrial scale to inflict such terrible and catastrophic damage.”
McCartney pleaded guilty to 185 charges, including manslaughter, blackmail, and sexual exploitation. His sentence, handed down at Belfast Crown Court , includes a life term with a minimum of 20 years before eligibility for parole.
The judge described McCartney's conduct as “truly difficult to comprehend,” noting the "remorseless" nature of his actions.
Detective Chief Superintendent Eamonn Corrigan of the Police Service of Northern Ireland emphasised the devastation caused, stating, “We cannot underestimate the devastation that he has caused and the childhoods he has stolen.”
The impact of McCartney's predatory behaviour on victims was profound, leading to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
Families of victims expressed their devastation, with Cimarron’s grandparents stating, “Our lives will never be the same. We didn’t get to see her graduate, walk down the aisle or have children.”
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