Eric Eoin Marques granted legal aid over child pornography charges

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

Eric Eoin Marques was granted legal aid in the High Court in connection with extradition proceedings over charges of conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography. The proceedings were reported on 28 March 2014.

Mr Justice John Edwards granted the recommendation after considering alleged unexplained funds of approximately €300,000. Marques said he had given about €250,000 to his Romanian girlfriend and spent the remainder on living expenses; the judge said the accounts showed discrepancies and that any hidden funds could be liable to seizure as proceeds of crime.

The judge backdated the legal-aid recommendation to the date of the extradition request, remanded Marques in continuing custody and said he would re-list the matter for 29 April. The report said the charges related to four alleged offences carrying a possible total sentence of 100 years in the United States.

Marques did not enter a guilty plea in the reported proceedings. Counsel had previously indicated his willingness to plead guilty in Dublin District Court, while the DPP opposed prosecution in Ireland.