Cork gardaí charge man with possessing 23,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse

The accused was granted bail and is required to provide a phone number to gardaí at which he can be contacted at all times

On the application of gardaí, the case was adjourned until January 21, 2026. File photo

A 41-year-old man was arrested on Thursday and charged with possession of over 23,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse images and distribution of over 200 such videos at a Cork address in 2019.

Heiko Schuff, with an address at Upritchard Crescent, Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland, was charged by Detective Garda Robert McCarthy in respect of alleged offences at an apartment at Tivoli Woods, Tivoli, Cork, in 2019.

He was charged with three counts of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of such material. The possession charges refer to May 22, 2019, and the distribution charge refers to a period between April 1, 2019, and May 22, 2019.

The charges refer to allegations that between images and videos there were 14,961 on a MacBook laptop, 924 on a Hitachi hard drive and 7,181 on a memory card. It is alleged that up to approximately 10,000 of these items were in category 1, the most serious category showing children involved in or witnessing sexual acts. A total of 238 videos were allegedly for distribution.

Sergeant Gearóid Davis said the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed trial by indictment and that a signed plea of guilty could be entered in advance of sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said: “There will definitively be a plea of not guilty in the case and a book of evidence will be required.” On the application of Sgt Davis, Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case until January 21, 2026.

Bail conditions require him to provide a phone number to gardaí at which he can be contacted at all times.