Donal Kelly jailed for child pornography possession

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Donal Kelly was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 17 October 2022 to 18 months in prison, with the final six months suspended.

Kelly pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of child pornography. The charges concerned possession at his Dublin home on 3 September 2021. The proceedings were reported on 18 October 2022.

The court heard that Kelly, a former taxi driver, was caught with 120 videos and 303 images of children and infants being raped and sexually abused. He attempted to explain that he continued watching the material because he believed it showed a loving interaction between the children and their abusers.

Judge Elma Sheahan said the explanation showed Kelly had limited insight into his offending. She described the material as grotesque and offensive, and noted its depravity as an aggravating factor. She also noted that Kelly had admitted his guilt, cooperated with gardaí and made significant progress since starting therapy with a psychologist.

Kelly had no previous convictions. He has lost his taxi licence and will be placed on the sex offender's register.