Courts / Dublin / Report
Nurse avoids jail for distributing child porn
Summary
Steven McGinty, a 46‑year‑old former nurse from Cherry Garth, Swords, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 260 images and four video files of child pornography and to distributing such material within the State between August 2006 and October 2013. Gardaí found the material on his laptop, which had been stored at his home on 24 October 2013. McGinty voluntarily provided his computer passwords and directed officers to the storage location. Judge Karen O'Connor noted the relatively small volume of material, the absence of commercial activity, and McGinty's cooperation, including his attempts to seek rehabilitation. She also cited the long period over which the offences were committed and the impact on vulnerable children as aggravating factors. The judge imposed a four‑year jail sentence, fully suspended, with the sentence effectively suspended for the period of the sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Nurse avoids jail for distributing child porn. Charges or matters: possession of child pornography stored on a laptop at his home on October 24, 2013 and to the distribution of child pornography within the State on dates between August 2006 and October 2013. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 24, 2013 Incident
- August 2006 Incident
- October 2013 Incident
- 2018-03-15 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: possession of child pornography stored on a laptop at his home on October 24, 2013 and to the distribution of child pornography within the State on dates between August 2006 and October 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She sentenced him to four years in jail and fully suspended the sentence, saying the delay in obtaining the evidence, McGinty's efforts to rehabilitate himself and the relatively low number of images all contributed to her decision. "Crimes such as these target the most vulnerable and very often the most deprived children.
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