A Tusla child and family agency employee who was caught with thousands of child pornography images claimed to gardaí that he downloaded them in an effort to figure out paedophiles and sex offenders as part of his work.

Up to four people targeted in Garda raids of 31 homes have voluntarily admitted to possessing more than 150,000 child abuse images, the Irish Examiner understands. In one case, there are believed to be 70,000 images on the person’s digital devices.