A man who sent computer images of young children being sexually abused to an undercover German police detective has been jailed for 2½ years for advertising child pornography on the Internet.
Thomas Muldoon (26), a native of Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, with an address in Ashley Court, Waterford, has been banned from owning a computer and having unsupervised access to the Internet during the 11 years he will have to remain under the supervision of the Probation and Welfare Service on his release from jail.
At Waterford Circuit Court yesterday, Judge Seán O'Donovan, also ordered that Muldoon be placed on the register of sex offenders.
Muldoon, father of a three-month-old baby, pleaded guilty at Waterford Circuit Court in June to advertising and possessing child pornography in Co Waterford between May 6th and 7th, 1999.
Apart from the nine child pornography images which Muldoon sent to Det Sgt Achin Steiger of the German Police, the Garda found 700 more images and movie files stored on his computer.
Muldoon, who was living in Dungarvan at the time, said he was disgusted, ashamed and embarrassed and felt so sorry for his family, girlfriend, child and friends, whom he had upset.
Muldoon, who broke down in the witness box, said he had come to see these images for what they really were and what they represented.
"I realise this isn't a victimless crime and I am sorry, really sorry," said the defendent, who has been in custody since February. When asked if he was prepared to undergo counselling, Muldoon said: "This is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. What I have done is wrong. I want to ensure nothing like this ever happens again. Anything that can help me, no matter what it is or where it is, I will be prepared to do it."
Muldoon's solicitor, Mr Joseph Cuddigan, said the only treatment available for sex offenders in the prison system was at Arbour Hill Prison where there was a waiting list. Outside the prison system, the Granada Institute in Dublin was the only place offering therapy and it had a 10-month waiting list.
Judge O'Donovan said he was well aware of the limitations of the treatment available to the defendent in prison. There was little, if anything; but he would certainly recommend that treatment be made available to Muldoon. He said there were wonderful reports about what was done in other countries, but little of it had been put into practice in Ireland.
Besides the jail sentence, the judge imposed an 18-month concurrent sentence for handling a stolen lap-top.
Judge O'Donovan also made an order to confiscate and destroy the items secured by the gardaí during their investigation and refused leave to appeal.
He praised Det Sgt Steiger, Insp Tom O'Grady of Dungarvan Garda Station and the other gardaí involved on the professional handling of the investigation.
He recommended the Garda should follow the methods used in this investigation in any other such case.