Child porn case - State must appeal light sentence

THE State should not hesitate to appeal the leniency of the sentence handed down in Cork Circuit Court against Colin Ashman, the Englishman found guilty of downloading 2,343 internet images of children engaged in sexual acts.

Images of Ashman sticking out his tongue after the case speak volumes for his disdain of the law and his seeming lack of culpability for indulging in downloading horrific images of children - some as young as 10 - being subjected to sexual abuse.

Every time someone downloads child pornography, it pays for the rape, sexual abuse, torture and molestation of children. Watching these abusive images amounts to visual paedophilia. It encourages vicious acts of sadism against children, toddlers and even the rape of newborn babies.