Wicklow man accused of producing thousands of child pornography files given trial date

By Darragh McCann, The Wicklow People

A Wicklow man accused of producing and possessing thousands of child pornography images and videos is due to stand trial in October, after concerns were raised over delays in bringing the case to hearing.

Alan Cafolla (26), with an address at Verona, Kindlestown Heights, Delgany, appeared at a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court charged with 16 counts under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998.

It is alleged that on December 15, 2021, while residing at his home address, the accused produced child pornography for the purpose of distribution, publication, exportation, sale or showing.

Mr Cafolla is facing the same allegations on two other dates, namely December 22, 2021, and January 8, 2022.

He is also accused of possessing a OnePlus A600 mobile phone which contained 3,525 images and 612 videos alleged to constitute child pornography, as well as a computer containing a further 36 images and three videos.

At a previous sitting in April, the court was told that the defendant intended to plead not guilty and was due to receive a trial date, with the trial expected to last between three and four days.

Senior counsel for the defence, Maurice Coffey, informed the court that he had a medical certificate stating that his client was suffering from kidney stones.

Gardaí made enquiries, with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin being told that his health issues were not kidney stone related and that he was no longer an inpatient.

Judge Ní Chúlacháin directed that a medical certificate be furnished stating that Mr Cafolla was unfit to attend court, or that a doctor be made available to testify to his unfitness, otherwise a bench warrant would be issued for his arrest.

Mr Coffey was granted an adjournment as the defendant was due to attend medical appointments throughout the week.

However, Mr Cafolla presented himself in court on June 16, with Mr Coffey arguing that he was not fit to attend proceedings. The court was told that the matter “is dragging on a bit”, having first been listed for trial in 2022.

Judge Ní Chúlacháin remarked that there was no practical reality in the accused fixing a trial date during the current sitting of the court before adjourning the matter to a later date.

Mr Cafolla is due before Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court for trial on October 20.