Sentencing adjourned in Limerick child porn case so defendant can sit State exams

******READER DISCRETION ADVISED, CONTENT CONTAINS DETAILS OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY******

THE SENTENCING of a man charged with possession and distribution of child sex abuse images and videos has been adjourned so that he can sit State exams in prison.

The man who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, who is a minor, has a Limerick address and was described in court as allegedly being a crystal meth addict.

Following on from a special court sitting in Kilmallock in October, the man appeared before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court via video link from prison.

The court heard that despite having a date set for sentencing, Judge Colin Daly could not pass sentence as a probation report was not available.

Barrister for the defendant, Liam Carroll BL told the court that there appeared to have been some sort of administration error.

He said the Probation Service could not identify a referral from the courts office and they asked for another referral to be made, so that the report could be furnished.

Prosecuting barrister for the State, John O’Sullivan BL, told Judge Daly: “This is a serious and disturbing case.”

At the special sitting in Kilmallock late last year, the court heard that the man, aged in his 40s, is charged with a total of 14 offences in relation to possession, production and distribution of child pornography. The charges are contrary to the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.

In evidence, Detective Garda James Muldowney said phones were seized from the defendant’s home in Limerick following a search under warrant.

Det Garda Muldowney alleged images and videos of “extreme child pornography” were discovered on the devices.

He alleged, in a summary for the judge, that videos included a baby aged six months, a toddler aged 18 months, a six-year-old girl holding a teddy bear and an eight-year-old boy with his hands chained together.

The Limerick Leader has taken the decision not to publish further alleged details of an extremely graphic nature that were outlined in court.

Afterwards, in cross-examination, Mr Carroll BL said his client’s instructions are that he did not create the alleged videos or images found on the defendant’s phones.

At the special sitting, Detective Garda Muldowney alleged, in a summary, that the defendant stated he would “love to torture, rape and kill a child and that he’s been so close a few times”.

In his evidence, Det Garda Muldowney alleged the accused is “a risk to children”.

The case in Limerick Circuit Court was adjourned originally to June 22, but the court heard that the defendant will be sitting the Leaving Certificate in prison then and would not be available to attend court.

A sentencing date was then set for July.

The defendant remains in custody and will appear via video link on the next court date.

Judge Daly clarified that all reporting restrictions remain in place and that he will revisit that decision upon sentencing.

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