Garda backlog for analysing child sex abuse imagery down by 50%

In February of this year, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said the most pressing issues in the detection of child sexual abuse were the backlog in examinations and the volume of material.

The garda backlog of child sexual abuse imagery and other material waiting to be examined has fallen by 50% in the last year—a reduction welcomed by child protection groups.

The waiting time to examine computers and other digital devices—which has taken up to three years—has long been a source of criticism by children’s organisations, oversight bodies and the courts.