Former Mass-card salesman allowed abroad before facing child porn trial

A former Mass-card salesman challenging his conviction for possessing child pornography is to be allowed travel to China ahead of his appeal, despite garda objections.

Thomas McNally of Foynes Court, Longford has been given back his passport after the Court of Criminal Appeal was told that a backlog means he may have to wait 18 months for his case to be heard.

He served around four months of an 18-month sentence before being granted bail last year on compassionate grounds because he has advanced colon cancer.

The court heard that he needs to travel as part of a new business venture and that he wants to go to China with his new Chinese wife, to visit her sick mother.

His daughter, Tanya Mulryan, of the same address, is to be sentenced in April after admitting having child pornography images printed on an A4 page at her home in February 2006.