Man charged with possession of child pornography brought before Limerick Circuit Court
AN ELDERLY man has been brought before Limerick Circuit Court for the production and possession of child pornography.
The man cannot yet be named, due to the enforcement of strict reporting restrictions on the case.
During a sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Colm O’Shea, confirmed the facts of the case with Prosecuting Barrister John O’Sullivan.
Det Garda O’Shea told the court that there was such a volume of child pornography that it was not possible for An Garda Síochána to review all the child pornography before arresting the man.
The man is charged with the production of child pornography – which followed from an incident where he played child sexual abuse material while another individual was in his presence.
The man is also charged with the possession of child pornography.
Mr O’Sullivan told the court that the man had thousands of images of child pornography in his possession, as well as hundreds of videos.
The man told gardaí that he obtained the child sexual abuse material from groups online.
The court heard that the volume of child pornography was such that the assistance of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation was required in order to classify the quantity of child pornography.
A representative sample of the child pornography found in the man’s possession was described in the court.
The descriptions of the child pornography given in court were exceptionally graphic in nature, and involved children as young as two-years-old.
The court heard that the man had previously been involved in training a juvenile sports team.
Det Garda O’Shea told Limerick Circuit Court that the man claimed in a garda interview that he was sexually abused as a child.
Barrister Mark Nicholas, representing the accused man, asked the court to consider that the man has entered a plea at an early stage, and that he has made admissions.
The barrister said in mitigation that the man has “a slightly deteriorating state in terms of mental acuity”, and has seen a doctor regarding the possibility of having dementia.
Mr Nicholas further stated that the man has a long history of work.
Judge Colin Daly took the case into consideration, and adjourned the sentencing of the man to a court date in July.
Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme