No jail for man caught with thousands of sex abuse images of children

Passing sentence, Judge Pauline Codd said the courts have reiterated that these are real children who are being abused in these images

Judge Codd sentenced Shortt to three years' imprisonment, but suspended the sentence in its entirety on strict conditions including that he follow all directions of the Probation Service for two years. File photo: iStock

A man who was caught in possession of more than 4,000 sexually explicit images of children has received a fully suspended sentence.

Padraig Shortt (42) of Glendown Drive, Templeogue, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography at his address on March 17, 2016. He has no previous convictions.