Courts / Dublin / Report
Child abuse images discovered after worker brought laptop for repair
Summary
A 66‑year‑old man named Alan Clarke, who worked as a security guard, was found to possess child sex abuse images and videos on his laptop when it was brought to a repair centre in 2009. The material, depicting boys and girls aged five to fifteen, was downloaded between March and May 2009. The laptop was not analysed until 2015 because of a lack of Garda resources. Clarke pleaded guilty in June 2009 and admitted a curiosity about child pornography, claiming he had lost interest the previous month. He denied paying for the material or profiting from it, and there was no evidence he shared it. He had a prior assault conviction from 1987. Judge Melanie Greally, noting the offence's seriousness and a significant time lapse, imposed an 18‑month suspended sentence with conditions including continued therapy under the Probation Service. Clarke is retired, lives in sheltered accommodation, and has not been in contact with Gardaí since the incident.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Child abuse images discovered after worker brought laptop for repair. Charges or matters: possession of child pornography at FÁS Training Centre, Loughlinstown Drive, Co Dublin, on June 2, 2009. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 2, 2009 Incident
- 2020-01-17 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of child pornography at FÁS Training Centre, Loughlinstown Drive, Co Dublin, on June 2, 2009 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She handed down an 18-month sentence and suspended it on a number of conditions, including that Clarke continue attending therapy as directed by the Probation Service.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Leinster Road
- Dublin
- Loughlinstown Drive
Topics
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