Waterford man jailed for possession and distribution of images of child sexual abuse

Darragh Stephens, previously of Waterford City and now living in Poulmaleen, Faugheen, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary, had pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of child pornography and to one count of possession of the graphic material under the Child Pornography and Trafficking Act at the Circuit Criminal Court.

A former sex worker amassed a collection of more than 1,000 sexually explicit images of children because he was “constantly searching for more thrills”, a court in Waterford has heard.

Among the images were babies aged six months old to teenagers aged up to 16, some of whom the judge said showed "terror, confusion and fear" at the assaults and "torture" being carried out on them.