Lawyer criticises ‘massive delay’ in analysing child pornography cases

A senior lawyer has hit out at the “massive delay” by the State in analysing technical evidence in child pornography cases.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Co Clare, Brian McInerney was commenting in a case where his client, Ciaran Moore, aged 31, has pleaded guilty to the possession of 531 child explicit images and 24 child explicit movies at his home address in the Tullyglass area of Shannon.

The offences took place on October 31 and November 1, 2012. Addressing Judge Gerald Keys, Mr McInerney said: “The dates on the indictment relate to almost six years ago and that, I just wish to point out at this stage, is through no fault of the accused. That is because of the dearth of resources available to the Garda Síochána in what used to be known as the Computer Crime Unit and they now have some exotic name attached to it.