Dublin man faces child pornography charges

A 58-year-old Dublin man has been returned for trial accused of distributing and possessing child porn on a mobile phone.

Kevin Bowes from Markievicz House, in Dublin is charged with possessing child porn images and offending text messages on a mobile phone at his home address on March 10, 2011. He is also accused of knowingly distributing child pornography on a date between February 1 and March 13 last year.

He faces a third charge for threatening a witness in the proceedings at Markievicz House, on July 12 last year.

He was served with a book of evidence when he appeared at Dublin District Court this afternoon and was told by Judge Cormac Dunne that if he intended to rely on an alibi in his defence, he must notify the prosecution within 14 days. The judge then made an order sending Mr Bowes, who is on conditional bail, forward for trial to the next term of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Earlier this month, his co-accused, Kenneth Powell (45) with an address at Bessborough Avenue, in Dublin was sent also returned for trial.

Mr Powell has been charged with distribution of child pornography between February 1 and March 13, 2011. He is also accused of possessing child pornography on a mobile phone at his north inner city Dublin home, on March 18 last year.

A further charge was also brought against him – under the Postal and Telecommunications Act – for sending an obscene message to the Child Fund Ireland charity, at Merrion Street, in central Dublin, on February 14 last year.

Earlier the district court had imposed bail terms stating both men must sign on three times a week at their local garda stations. They were also ordered to surrender their passports to gardaí.

Another bail condition stated that they cannot have contact, directly or indirectly, with each other or any witnesses in the case.

Judge Dunne told Mr Bowes that the conditions will remain for the duration of the case.