Extradition case against Irishman adjourned

The extradition case against an Irishman described by an FBI special agent as “the largest facilitator of child porn in the world” has been put back for another week.

Eric Eoin Marques, who is alleged to be the owner and administrator of an anonymous hosting site known as Freedom Hosting, is wanted by US authorities to face charges relating to conspiring to distribute and advertise child pornography, and advertising and distributing child pornography.

Mr Marques, aged 28, with an address at Mountjoy Square, Dublin, has been in custody since his arrest in August, after he was refused bail over concerns he represented a flight risk and that he may abscond or interfere with evidence in the case.

The charges against Mr Marques relate to images on over a hundred “anonymous websites” described as being 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 the children involved are infants, the FBI claim.

The extradition court previously heard from FBI special agent Brooke Donahue, who described Mr Marques as “the largest facilitator of child porn in the world”.

Lawyers for Mr Marques yesterday asked the High Court for a two-week adjournment in the case as there was an ongoing matter with regard to legal representation.

Mr Justice John Edwards said he would put the matter back for one week as he was anxious that some progress should be made in the case.