Ruling due on bail application for man wanted by FBI on child porn charges

The High Court will rule today on whether a 28-year-old Irishman, described by an FBI agent as “the largest facilitator of child porn on the planet”, can bring a second application for bail.

Mr Justice John Edwards said there were “clearly weighty issues to be reflected on” in the reapplication for bail by Eric Eoin Marques, and that court would give its ruling this morning on whether the matter would proceed.

The US authorities are seeking the extradition of Mr Marques, on charges relating to images on over 100 “anonymous websites” described as extremely violent, graphic and depicting the rape and torture of pre- pubescent children.

The websites in question have “thousands of members” who have posted “millions of images” of child pornography. Some of the children involved are infants, according to the FBI.

Last month, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan refused to grant bail to Mr Marques, with an address at Mountjoy Square in central Dublin, until the extradition request has been determined.

Investigating gardaí and the FBI both objected to bail on the grounds that Mr Marques represented a flight risk and there was a fear of destruction of evidence.

The court previously heard Mr Marques, who has Irish and US citizenship, was arrested in Dublin on foot of a provisional extradition warrant issued by a US court on July 29.

At the first bail hearing it was disclosed that the Minister for Justice was awaiting the formal extradition request from US authorities, but Remy Farrell yesterday told the High Court that this had since been received. He said Marques was entitled to bring a second bail application due to this change in circumstances.

Counsel for the Attorney General, Patrick McGrath, told the extradition court that it should not entertain the application as there was no change in circumstances and if the defendant felt Mr Justice Gilligan was in error, he could appeal to the Supreme Court.

The US authorities are seeking the extradition of Marques on four charges. The court heard that if convicted he faces sentences of up to 30 years in prison.