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"Taboo seeker" caught with hundreds of explicit child abuse images has bail revoked
Summary
Peter McDonagh, 29, of Clontarf, was found in possession of 980 images of child pornography, including more than half with extreme sexual content involving children as young as two. The images were discovered on his mobile phones during a search on 18 January 2017, after Canadian authorities alerted Irish police to the material. McDonagh pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was remanded on continuing bail. Judge Melanie Greally revoked his bail and remanded him in custody pending a sentence in October, ordering a probation report for his eventual release. The court noted that 536 images were Category 1, involving explicit sexual activity between children and adults, while the remainder were Category 2. McDonagh has prior minor convictions and a history of mental health issues, but the judge concluded that a custodial sentence was necessary due to the explicit nature of the material and his method of acquisition.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "Taboo seeker" caught with hundreds of explicit child abuse images has bail revoked. Charges or matters: possessing the images at his home on January 18, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 18, 2017 Adjournment
- 2018-07-03 Publication
Why: Judge Greally ordered a probation report for that date because she said she needed to consider what supervision should be in place on McDonagh's ultimate release from prison. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possessing the images at his home on January 18, 2017 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She told Anne-Marie Lawlor SC, defending, that she had read a psychiatric report before the court but said considering the explicit nature of the material and how McDonagh obtained those images, "the case would ultimately necessitate a custodial sentence". She urged Judge Greally to consider imposing a sentence involving probation and welfare services to support McDonagh in the community.; Judge Melanie Greally had remanded McDonagh on continuing bail last month to allow her time to consider the case.
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