It has been learned that the Circuit Court judge whose home was raided in connection to the Garda crackdown on Internet child pornography has been directed by his superior not to hear any more cases until the investigation has been completed.
Computer equipment was seized at homes around the State as part of the Garda’s Operation Amethyst which is investigating the possession and distribution of paedophile pornography.
Senior figures in the law, education, business and the public service are among almost 100 men who are being investigated as a result of Monday morning's nationwide Garda raids.
Some equipment was also seized in legal and business offices.
The suspects are thought to have used credit cards to buy pornographic images from a site which was monitored by the FBI over the past two years