John O’Dowd jailed for child pornography offence

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

John O’Dowd (42), of Beech Park, Lucan, received an 18-month sentence, with the final six months suspended, for possession of child pornography at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Melanie Greally imposed strict conditions on the suspended portion, including a requirement to avail of all therapy available to him.

He pleaded guilty to the charge. The possession offence occurred at his home on 4 September 2010. The proceedings were reported on 5 July 2016.

O’Dowd had received a nine-month suspended sentence in the UK in 2003 for possession of child pornography and was placed on the sex offenders’ register there. After moving to Ireland, he was monitored by the Garda. He admitted a “lapse” in his internet viewing habits to a garda who called to interview him as part of that monitoring.

Judge Greally said a psychiatric report described challenges in his personal history, but noted that he had not taken personal responsibility and resented or objected to Garda supervision. She also noted that he had completed a treatment programme at the Grenada Institute.