Coach Sentenced for Child Abuse

A shocking betrayal of trust: 24-year-old football coach Alex McElhatton from Omagh has been jailed for five months after admitting to sending explicit sexual messages to a child on his team. The abuse began in April 2025, discovered by the child’s mother, and led to a court ruling that rejected his claim the messages weren’t for his own gratification. The judge emphasized the profound harm done and the coach’s responsibility — especially as a trusted adult — sentencing him to prison, a seven-year Sex Offender Register, and a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. The victim’s parents spoke of lasting trauma, while McElhatton’s mental health struggles were deemed irrelevant to his accountability. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1d1524b190fcd07c