Former PD councillor jailed on child porn charge
Alan Robinson, a former PD councillor for the Rathmines area, pleaded guilty yesterday at Dublin District Court to an offence committed at the offices of the Dublin Junior Film Festival in the city’s Temple Bar area. It is one of the biggest prison sentences to be handed down by the courts so far in relation to a conviction for the possession of child pornography, although the case is not linked to arrests made as part of last year’s Operation Amethyst.
Robinson is the second prominent member of the PDs to come before the court on such charges. Former PD local election candidate and Circuit Court judge, Brian Curtin from Tralee is also due to appear before Tralee District Court next month on a charge relating to the possession of child pornography.
Robinson, 36, of Joyce Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4 is a former director of the Dublin Junior Film Festival.
Detective Sergeant Mark Kavanagh of Pearse St Garda station gave evidence yesterday of arresting Robinson under Section 7 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998, at the accused’s office at the Irish Film Centre, Eustace St, Dublin 2 on September 18 last year.
A computer was seized during the raid which upon examination was shown to contain certain illegal downloaded material. Robinson pleaded guilty to possessing five images of pornography involving children, three of which were described as graphic.
Judge John Coughlan sentenced Robinson to six months imprisonment plus a fine of €1,000. However, he consented to releasing Robinson on bail pending an appeal.
Robinson was co-opted as a member of Dublin Corporation in 1997 to replace Liz O’Donnell when she became a junior Government minister but he failed to get re-elected in the 1999 local elections. A PD spokesperson said yesterday that Robinson was no longer registered as an official member of the party.
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