Courts / Dublin / Report

Lawyers for alleged "largest facilitator of child porn in the world" seek DPP's reasons for refusing to prosecute him in Ireland

Date
2015-06-30

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The High Court heard arguments regarding the extradition of Eric Eoin Marques, 30, of Mountjoy Square, Dublin, who is alleged to be the owner of 'Freedom Hosting'. US authorities seek his surrender to face charges of conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography. Marques, who has been in custody since August 2013, is seeking judicial review of the DPP's refusal to prosecute him in Ireland. Counsel Mícheál P O'Higgins SC argued that the alleged offences occurred in Ireland and that Marques had offered to plead guilty in the District Court for sentencing in the Circuit Criminal Court. O'Higgins contended that extradition would be disproportionate, as US law could result in a life sentence without parole, whereas Irish law would impose a determinate sentence. He further noted that Marques, who has Irish and US citizenship, was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome in May, raising health concerns regarding the US prison system. State counsel Patrick McGrath SC detailed the procedural history, including a US official's affidavit stating the Bureau of Prisons could manage Marques' medical condition. Justice Aileen Donnelly requested clarification on the specific acts alleged in this jurisdiction. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Lawyers for alleged "largest facilitator of child porn in the world" seek DPP's reasons for refusing to prosecute him in Ireland. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

August 2013 Incident
2015-06-30 Publication

Case subjects

Mountjoy Square

Defendant

Outcome: In Ireland, the alleged offences did not amount to a crime so heinous that a person would be imprisoned for the rest of his life – he would receive a determinate sentence – while in the United States, he would effectively receive a life sentence without the possibility for parole, Mr O'Higgins said.