Man was found with 'deplorable' child abuse material
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court.
A man caught with child sexual abuse images claimed he was the victim of blackmail before eventually admitting his guilt.
Kevin Reilly, aged 49, of Curraghadooey, Scardaune, Claremorris pleaded guilty at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to two charges of possessing the images.
State prosecutor Patrick Reynolds told the court that An Garda Síochána's Online Child Exploitation Unit (ONCE) received correspondence in June 2019 from Interpol in Manchester relating to the social media platform WhatsApp.
Interpol reported that Hampshire Police in the United Kingdom were investigating a person who was suspected of sexual offences against children, including the sexual exploitation of a 13-year-old child in the UK. Arising out of this inquiry, two Irish telephone numbers were identified as being involved.
Det Gda Jonathan Ryan made an application to obtain the subscriber details of one of the numbers and it came back as the defendant, Kevin Reilly. It was not possible to identify the person connected to the second Irish number. A search warrant was obtained for Reilly’s home and 12 items of electronic hardware were seized, including five Samsung and Vodafone mobile phones, two camcorders, an Asus laptop, a Sony camera, two SD cards and a SIM card.
Gda Sean Ryan downloaded 1,164 indecent images and 177 videos from the devices. The court heard that 322 images and 124 videos were classified as containing 'category one' material, which is the most explicit type of material, involving children aged under 17 engaged in sexual acts. One image related to an infant aged just two to three years. Another 842 images and 53 videos were 'category two' material, showing children exposing their genitalia.
Reilly denied that he was deriving gratification from the material. He had previously given an "inexplicable account" of being a victim of blackmail by an unknown person who had compromising pictures of him. There was no basis for the blackmail claims. The court was told he now seems to take responsibility for his actions. During an interview with the Probation Service, he candidly revealed he had taken photographs of schoolgirls in Galway and posted them online.
Reilly had been a habitual user of child sexual abuse images for five years. He said the behaviour began when he was unemployed and a relationship ended. The defendant felt disgusted by his actions but was unable to stop.
The case was adjourned for probation and psychological reports and came before the court again last week for finalisation.
Barrister Diarmuid Connolly, representing Reilly, said his client is carrying out the Safer Lives programme (a programme for men who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour) and now acknowledges his offending behaviour.
Reilly has no previous convictions and works as a fabricator.
Judge Eoin Garavan said it was “almost a joke that he is a fabricator”, adding: “He is a fabricator in two different ways.”
Judge Garavan noted Reilly had three phones at the time of his offending and was accessing images of babies, toddlers and bestiality. He said the material was “deplorable, violent, and cruel” and Reilly had a preference for “deviant sexual behaviour”.
Acknowledging Reilly’s positive participation in the Safer Lives Programme, the judge said he believes Reilly has now “admitted who he is". He said he is hopeful that this interaction will ensure that children “can share the same streets, town, and online world” as the defendant.
The judge imposed a one-year suspended sentence and ordered Reilly to carry out 240 hours of community service. Any electronic devices owned by the defendant can be subject to Garda spot-checks.
