A 45-year old County Clare man has pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of 947 videos and 1,725 images of child abuse material on different dates over a two year period.
At Ennis Circuit Court, the man has pleaded guilty to 16 separate counts where in nine of the charges, the man has pleaded guilty of knowingly publishing and encouraging distribution of child pornography for the purpose of distribution, publication exportation, sale or show contrary to Section 5(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.
In preparation for the trial, the State was ready to issue 33 witness summons in connection with the case.
However, the State did not have to issue the summonses after Judge Francis Comerford vacated the trial date for the accused who is currently on remand in custody.
In the case, the man – who was on no fixed abode before being held on remand in custody – appeared in connection with 16 child abuse material and child exploitation counts.
The date range for seven of the distribution charges is from January 1st 2023 to May 17th 2023 with the other two distribution and publication charges concerning April 23rd 2025 to May 10th 2025.
In one charge, the man is accused of on April 9th 2025 at an Ennis address of having in possession 1,559 images and 794 videos of child pornography on a ZTE Axaon Mini mobile device contrary to Section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.
The man has also pleaded guilty to on May 10th 2025 at the same Ennis address of having in his possessions 22 images and 26 videos of child pornography on a Samsung galaxy A14 mobile device contrary to Section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.
The man has also pleaded guilty to material possession charges from two years previous at the same Ennis address.
On May 17th 2023, the man has also pleaded guilty to knowingly having in his possession 92 images and 82 videos of child pornography on a Samsung Galaxy mobile device at the same Ennis address contrary to Section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.
On the same date at the same address, the accused has also pleaded guilty to having in his possession 52 images and 45 videos of child pornography contrary to Section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.
The man has been further remanded in custody for sentence and a date will be fixed for his sentence at the call over of cases next month.
