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Man with child abuse imagery conviction illegally accessed iCloud accounts
Summary
Matthew Johnstone, aged 33, received a two‑year suspended sentence for criminal damage of data after illegally accessing the iCloud accounts of three individuals in 2016 and 2017. Johnstone, who had a prior 2018 conviction for possession of child pornography and a 2021 three‑year sentence with the final two years suspended, pleaded guilty to the data‑damage offence. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the offences were discovered during the same period the child‑pornography case was investigated. Judge Martin Nolan considered whether the two cases would have been dealt with together and concluded that the original prison term would likely not have been extended. He noted no evidence of harm or dissemination of the accessed data, and that Johnstone's motivation appeared to be curiosity. The judge imposed the suspended sentence, warning that further misconduct would lead to imprisonment.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man with child abuse imagery conviction illegally accessed iCloud accounts. Charges or matters: criminal damage of data within iCloud accounts in relation to three people within the State, on various dates in 2016 and 2017. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- 2016 and 2017 Incident
- 2023-03-21 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: criminal damage of data within iCloud accounts in relation to three people within the State, on various dates in 2016 and 2017 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He received a three year sentence with the final two years suspended in 2021. The judge imposed a two-year suspended sentence after saying to Johnstone: "The ice is fairly thin for you." "If you engage in any of this behaviour of using your undoubted abilities to make life more difficult for people, you will be going to prison," the judge said.; Judge Martin Nolan had adjourned the case overnight to consider it.
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