Judge orders senior Dept of Justice official to attend child abuse image court case

Niall Colgan has been charged with possessing two videos and eight images of child abuse material

Judge Mitchell remanded the accused on continuing bail in his absence to appear on October 5 but ordered that he attend and be notified by his solicitor. File picture

A judge has ordered a senior Department of Justice official accused of possessing child abuse images and videos to appear in court next month to be served with the book of evidence for his trial.

Niall Colgan, 38, of Muckross Park, Perrystown, Dublin 12, was excused from attending his case at Dublin District Court on Thursday. However, Judge Alan Mitchell directed that he come to court on October 5 for the next state of the proceedings.

Mr Colgan was granted bail on August 14 after Detective Garda Alan Young charged him with possessing two videos and eight images of child abuse material on February 1, 2022. The offence is contrary to Section 6 (1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.

He is also charged with possessing cannabis at his home on the same date and has yet to indicate a plea.

His solicitor, Damien Coffey, and Garda Young confirmed that Mr Colgan had been excused from attending on Thursday if the book of evidence was not ready.

Judge Mitchell noted from a State solicitor that there were no outstanding statements and that the book was “in typing” and would be ready in two weeks. Judge Mitchell remanded the accused on continuing bail in his absence to appear on October 5 but ordered that he attend and be notified by his solicitor.

Earlier, Detective Garda Young, from the divisional protective service in Tallaght, told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed trial indictment in the Circuit Court, which has broader sentencing powers. However, the State must serve a book of evidence on the accused before the District Court grants a return for trial order.