Child porn lecturer remanded on bail

A COLLEGE lecturer charged with possessing child pornography was yesterday remanded on continuing bail.

Donal Storey, 37, from Marino Green, North Dublin, was ordered to appear before Dublin District Court again next week. Judge Miriam Malone said she needed to view all the images of alleged child pornography Storey is being charged with possessing in order to determine jurisdiction.

This will determine whether the case should go ahead before her in the District Court or whether the case needed be referred to the Circuit Court. Cases are sent to the Circuit Court if the alleged crime is deemed to be of a more serious nature.

A person convicted with possession of child pornography at District Court level faces up to 12 months in prison and a fine of €1,900.

A person convicted at Circuit Court level faces up to five years in jail and a maximum fine of €5,350.

The prosecution yesterday told Judge Malone the Director of Public Prosecutions had given consent for the case to be dealt with summarily at District Court level, but Judge Malone said she had to determine jurisdiction and requested sight of the images being used as evidence in the case.

Garda Tony Grehan, of Santry Station, presented an envelope with images of alleged child pornography. He said the images were taken from computer equipment seized during a search of the accused’s house last May.

Judge Malone adjourned the case until the afternoon to allow her view the images during the lunch break. When the hearing recommenced, she said the envelope only contained nine images and said she needed to see all the images before determining jurisdiction.

“I can’t determine jurisdiction until I have sight of all 12 images ... showing the degree and types of images.”

She remanded Storey on continuing bail to appear before her next Thursday. Storey, a lecturer in planning in Dublin Institute of Technology, was originally charged with the offences last December.