World's biggest supplier of child pornography refused bail for second time

An Irishman described by an FBI special agent as “the largest facilitator of child porn in the world” has been refused bail for a second time at the High Court.

Mr Justice John Edwards yesterday afternoon said that, having taken “considerable time” to review the evidence in the case, he was not disposed to grant bail to Eric Eoin Marques, who is wanted in the US on charges relating to conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography, and advertising and distributing child pornography.

He said concerns that Mr Marques may abscond or interfere with evidence were such that he could not grant him bail even on a regime of strict conditions.

The 28-year-old made no reaction to the judgment but looked as his family. It is unlikely his case will be heard before 2014.

The charges relate to images on over a 100 “anonymous websites” described as being extremely violent, graphic and depicting the rape and torture of pre-pubescent children.

The websites in question have “thousands of members” who have posted “millions of images” of child pornography. Some of the children involved are infants, the FBI claim.

On Thursday the extradition court heard from FBI special agent Brooke Donahue, who described Mr Marques as “the largest facilitator of child porn in the world”. The agent said it was alleged that an examination of Mr Marques’ home computer by gardaí showed that as well as hosting and facilitating the child pornography websites, Mr Marques was also visiting the sites, had direct knowledge of what he was hosting and had administrator access to one site.

He told counsel for the attorney general, Patrick McGrath SC, it was also alleged that Mr Marques was attempting to gain access to foreign website-hosting companies using a fraudulent image of a United States passport.

The court heard that Mr Marques had “substantial financial resources” with $1.5m (€1.13m) passing through one bank account — and had searched the internet about whistleblower Edward Snowden and about obtaining a Russian visa.

Mr Justice Edwards said he took in to account Mr Marques’ lack of previous convictions and family ties in Ireland, noting the mother of the applicant was willing to offer a very substantial security on his behalf.

He said he had regard to the fact that Mr Marques’ two passports were in the possession of the State, that his two US bank accounts had been frozen and that he had very little in his Irish bank account.

Mr Justice Edwards said there was strong evidence that Mr Marques had previously attempted to interfere with the Freedom Hosting Server he is alleged to have owned and administrated, while there was also evidence he had prevented gardaí from gaining access to his computer.

He said there was evidence Mr Marques represented a flight risk as he had the financial resources to flee and his “very considerable technical know-how” and rare computer skill meant he was capable of being employed anywhere in the world.

Mr Justice Edwards said the fact that Mr Marques could make money quickly and easily meant freezing his accounts was meaningless in terms of imposing any kind of restraint.

The FBI alleges that Mr Marques was the owner and administrator of an anonymous hosting site known as Freedom Hosting that was a “sophisticated, huge, transnational operation”.

The court heard, if convicted, Mr Marques faces the remainder of his natural life in prison as the four charges could result in a sentence totalling 100 years.

Mr Justice Edwards remanded Mr Marques in custody to appear before the High Court on Oct 22.