Porn pictures sender may escape prosecution

A LOOPHOLE in legislation may lead to a 49-year-old man escaping prosecution for sending pornographic pictures to a schoolgirl.

The child’s mother last night called for a major updating of the law, after she learned that gardaí are trawling the statue books in an effort to find appropriate legislation for the case.

At present they are looking at the 1951 Post Office Amendment Act. Section 13 of that act states it is an offence to send “grossly offensive, obscene or menacing characters” by means of a telecommunications system operated by Bord Telecom Éireann. A conviction under that act in a district court would lead to a fine of €1,000 and/or up to 12 months in prison.