Ex-diplomat and World Bank consultant arrested for sexually abusing three children under 10 in DC: report

A former diplomat, World Bank consultant, and married father of three was arrested last month and charged with sexually abusing three children under the age of 10 in Washington, DC, according to a report.Thomas Mahony, 42, an Australian national, is accused of abusing two 7-year-old girls and one 8-year-old boy — with all three incidents occurring at his family home during playdates with his children, The Washington Post reported.The alleged abuse occurred in separate incidents in November 2023, February 2023, and as recently as July 2025.Police were notified as early as the first incident in 2023, but the US Attorney’s office did not prosecute Mahony because of “consideration of the government’s burden of beyond a reasonable doubt,” court records reviewed by the outlet stated.The World Bank told the outlet that Mahony’s employment was terminated when they were informed of his arrest and charges on July 23.Mahony was known in the Northwest Washington community as an engaged and proud parent who volunteered as a photographer for his children’s swim teams, the report stated.The mother of two alleged victims said she once thought of Mahony as “a hero of the community,” before learning of the abuse which allegedly happened while the young children were watching a movie, playing video games, or pretending to run to a Target store.During the playdate in November 2023, Mahony allegedly escorted a girl to the bathroom of his family home where he sexually assaulted her, according to the report.That incident was reported to authorities.The mother of two other victims said she trusted Mahony up until the moment last month when she discovered him allegedly abusing her 7-year-old daughter.“The only thing you can do is just cry,” the anonymous mother of two of the children who Mahony is charged with abusing told the outlet.“I feel like I failed as a mother by trusting this person,” she said.“I told my husband if there is a family we can trust, it must...