Courts / Dublin / Report

Retired council engineer avoids jail for child abuse imagery

Summary

Michael Sheeran, 68, a retired council engineer, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at his Dublin home on 17 May 2016. An investigation began in 2016 after FBI information identified Irish users on the hidden file‑sharing site Playpen. Sheeran registered in November 2014 and was linked to 57 discussion threads containing images and video clips of child abuse. Gardaí seized his computer equipment and, after a backlog, retrieved 645 image files and 136 video files showing children being sexually abused. Sheeran began therapy after the raid and has undertaken steps to understand his behaviour. Judge Pauline Codd, noting his remorse and family support, suspended a three‑year prison term on the condition of continued therapeutic rehabilitation, two years of probation and registration on the sex offenders' registrar.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Retired council engineer avoids jail for child abuse imagery. Charges or matters: possession of "child pornography" at his home on May 17, 2016. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• May 17, 2016 Incident
• November 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2020-10-28 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial

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Read the original CNI report