Courts / Cork / Report

Bar manager caught with 'stomach churning' child abuse material

Date
2021-03-04

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Cork

County
Cork

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Matthew Johnstone, 31, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Gardaí seized a laptop from his Brabazon House apartment, uncovering 22 images and 13 videos depicting children aged 1 to 12 years in sexual and physical abuse. The images showed girls aged 4 to 12 being abused, with eight digitally altered to include a horse's genitalia. The videos featured girls aged 1 to 10, including four of an 18‑month‑old baby abused by an adult woman, and a "trailer" video. Judge Pauline Codd described the material as "stomach churning" and adjourned the case for finalisation on March 24. Johnstone had no prior convictions, had worked as a bar manager, and claimed remorse, stating he had attended two counsellors and was seeking rehabilitation. The court considered a non‑custodial sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Bar manager caught with 'stomach churning' child abuse material. Charges or matters: possession of child pornography at his home on November 19, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 19, 2018 Incident
March 24 Adjournment
2021-03-04 Publication

Case subjects

Matthew Johnstone

Accused

Charges: possession of child pornography at his home on November 19, 2018 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Counsel said the court has heard cases in which the number of files went into the hundreds or thousands and that was not the case here and she asked the court to impose a non-custodial sentence.; Judge Codd adjourned the matter for finalisation on March 24, next.