Former PD councillor jailed on child porn charge

A FORMER Progressive Democrats councillor from Dublin has been given a six-month jail sentence and fined €1,000 after being convicted of possessing child pornography.

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.