Cork Tusla employee claimed child porn images were part of research for work

A Tusla child and family agency employee who was caught with thousands of child pornography images claimed to gardaí that he downloaded them in an effort to figure out paedophiles and sex offenders as part of his work.

However, Denis O’Donovan later pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of child pornography contrary to the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act. The particulars of the offence state that on March 9, 2017, at his home at 40 Forest Ridge, Doughcloyne, Togher, Cork, he did knowingly possess child pornography, namely 2,350 images and 14 video files.