Former civil servant downloaded 'horrific' child porn images

A former civil servant who downloaded child pornographic images described as "amongst the worst that have ever come before the courts" has been given a two-year suspended sentence.

Gerard McMahon (aged 53), a divorced father of six, with an address at The Richmond Apartments, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7 pleaded guilty to five counts of possession of child pornography on dates in March 2002.