Man had 30,000 porn images on computer

A RECLUSE who fled his Waterford home after he was assaulted and became the subject of a vigilante attack has been placed on the sex offender’s register until his next court appearance in June, 2004.

Robert Barry, formerly of St John’s Park in Waterford, was found to have had 30,000 pornographic images on his computer when gardaí visited his home just before Operation Amethyst began.

The 44-year-old single man also lost his job as a night porter when his case first came to court on June 18 last, Judge Olive Buttimer heard yesterday as the case came before her on the opening day of sittings of the Waterford Circuit Criminal Court.

Counsel for the state Tom Teehan said the court had ordered forfeiture of Barry’s hardware and software the last time the matter came to court. Reports compiled on the defendant were descriptive but came to no firm conclusion, counsel for Barry Martin Nolan said.

He added that his client and his client’s mother’s house had been attacked on the last occasion the matter was in the courts.

He said his client had not actually been involved in any abuse but admitted that he had looked at the pictures. He had not been in trouble since that date.

“In the past he has not been a threat to children in society and there is no evidence that he is a threat. This is a very serious offence and a very topical offence. He appears to be somewhat inadequate and has lived a sheltered, reclusive life.

“He has lost his job because of these offences. He will go on as before and the future is not too bright for him.

“He will probably live a reclusive life. He has no friends, bar his mother and family and until the events are forgotten, he is fearful of returning to St John’s Park,” defence counsel added.

Judge Olive Butter ordered that the case be adjourned for six months, pending a probation report and time to allow the defendant receive counselling as well as assessment of his likelihood to reoffend.

Counsel for the state asked that he be put on the appropriate sex offender’s register and Judge Buttimer directed that he be placed on such a list until the next court sitting in June.