Courts / Dublin / Report
Welshman jailed for collecting and exchanging child pornography
Summary
Craig Gardiner, 63, of Gibbons Terrace, Balbriggan, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for possession and distribution of child pornography. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography at Cyberzone cafe, Drogheda Street, Balbriggan on 1 November 2010 and to three counts of distribution of child pornography between June and September 2010. The judge, Martin Nolan, suspended the final two years of the sentence on the condition that Gardiner undergo probation supervision for two years. Gardiner's offences were discovered after a computer he used at an internet cafe became infected with a suspicious virus. Garda Louisa Gernan reported that two mobile phones seized from Gardiner contained 755 images of child pornography, including 39 images of boys aged two to ten. Emails sent by Gardiner were found to contain 217 similar images. Gardiner had no prior convictions and had briefly fled to Northern Ireland before voluntarily returning.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Welshman jailed for collecting and exchanging child pornography. Charges or matters: possession of child pornography at Cyberzone cafe, Drogheda Street, Balbriggan on November 1, 2010 and to three counts of distribution of child pornography between June and September 2010. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 1, 2010 Incident
- September 2010 Incident
- 2015-01-27 Publication
Why: Lawyers for Craig Gardiner (63) said he downloaded the images in order to maintain relationships with people described as "friends". CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of child pornography at Cyberzone cafe, Drogheda Street, Balbriggan on November 1, 2010 and to three counts of distribution of child pornography between June and September 2010 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan suspended the final two years of a four year prison sentence on condition that he undergo the supervision of the Probation Service for two years.
Places mentioned
- Gibbons Terrace
- Balbriggan
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Drogheda Street
Topics
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