No jail over 7,000 child porn images
Staff at the then Department of Arts, Sport, and Tourism discovered attempts to download inappropriate material on Patrick Corcoran’s, aged 53, computer during a software upgrade at the Kildare St offices in Dec 2009.
Members of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) seized a laptop and computer at Corcoran’s desk and later found 5,951 pornographic images of children between eight and 14 years old during a search of his former North Circular Rd home.
Judge Martin Nolan handed down a three-and-a-half year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, but warned Corcoran that he would go to jail if caught with any more illegal pornographic material.
“You are getting a chance, but if you re-offend, no mercy will be shown,” said Judge Nolan.
Corcoran pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on a work PC and laptop under his desk at what is now the Department of Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht on Dec 21, 2009.
He also pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography images in 87 A4 brown envelopes at his former home the same day.
He further pleaded guilty to possessing a further 1,100 images and 21 videos on a laptop and hard drive on Feb 7, 2012.
