Indian Diplomat’s Son Convicted in Ireland for Sexual Abuse

Dublin, Ireland – In a landmark ruling, the Dublin Criminal Court has found Daniel Ramamoorthy, the son of an Indian diplomat, guilty of sexually abusing a teenager while volunteering as a Christian youth camp guide. The 38-year-old motivational speaker, social media influencer, and former government department advisor has been sentenced to two years and four months in prison.

Ramamoorthy, known for conducting personality development and youth empowerment seminars under the banner of 'Malayalam'. was found guilty of coercing a teenage boy into sending explicit images via Snapchat in 2017. The case underwent two trials after the first jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict. The second trial, concluded last month, determined his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

Criminal Charges and Conviction

Apart from the sexual exploitation charge, Ramamoorthy was also accused of possessing child abuse material, commonly referred to as child pornography. Before the trial commenced, he admitted to this charge, though he continued to plead innocence regarding the sexual exploitation allegations.

During sentencing, Judge Sinéad McMullan emphasized the severity of Ramamoorthy’s actions, calling them a “grave breach of trust.” The court noted that three images and a video containing child exploitation material were recovered from his devices, depicting minors in compromising situations. The judge initially imposed a three-year sentence but reduced it to two years and four months, considering mitigating factors.

Background of the Convicted

Ramamoorthy, an Indian national, received his education at Yale University in the United States and has lived in multiple countries, including the UAE, Yemen, Zimbabwe, and Mexico, owing to his father’s diplomatic assignments. He resided in Whitebarn Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin, and also maintained an address in Germany.

His professional background includes advisory roles in Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment and extensive work in public speaking and entrepreneurship. However, with his conviction, he now faces restrictions on travel, including a ban on entering several countries where he previously worked.

Legal and Social Repercussions

As part of his sentencing, Ramamoorthy will be registered as a sex offender, and he will not be permitted to remain in Ireland after serving his sentence. The court further ruled that he will be denied visas to visit certain countries, including the UAE, where his elderly parents currently reside.

Detective Inspector Seán White, testifying for the prosecution, revealed that the victim first encountered Ramamoorthy at a Christian youth camp. The victim, who initially described Ramamoorthy as “friendly and charismatic,” later became a target of online sexual exploitation.

The case came to light when the teenager confided in his sister, who alerted their parents. A police investigation ensued, but locating Ramamoorthy proved challenging due to his frequent address changes. Authorities eventually tracked him down after he appeared on a live radio interview in Bray. A search warrant led to the discovery of incriminating digital evidence on his laptop.

Victim Impact and Ramamoorthy’s Defense

Despite the evidence, Ramamoorthy continued to deny engaging in explicit online conversations with the teenager. His legal team argued that no screenshots of the Snapchat exchanges were available due to the platform’s self-deleting nature. However, the court found the victim’s testimony credible and supported by circumstantial evidence.

During mitigation arguments, Ramamoorthy’s defense submitted numerous character references detailing his past humanitarian efforts, including fundraising for oxygen machines during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiding Ukrainian refugees, and supporting victims of the Indonesian tsunami. Judge McMullan acknowledged his contributions but maintained that the severity of his offenses warranted a custodial sentence.

With this conviction, Ramamoorthy’s once-prominent career in public speaking and social influence has come to an abrupt end, leaving a dark stain on his professional and personal legacy.