A CO Longford Mass card salesman was found guilty of possessing child pornography by a jury of six men and six women at Longford Circuit Court yesterday.
Thomas McNally (52), of Foynes Court, Longford, was convicted under section 6 (1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act of 1998, of knowingly having in his possession child pornography images on A4 paper on February 6th and 7th, 2006.
The conviction arose out of the recovery by gardaí of 350 child pornographic images in a field on the outskirts of Longford town, and a further 326 images found in a bag in the boot of a car in the driveway of McNally’s house.
McNally was remanded on continuing bail to June 9th. Judge Michael White postponed sentencing until the court deals with another defendant.
Earlier Det Sgt Keelan Brennan said he arrested McNally and interviewed him on July 26th.
McNally confirmed that his home had been broken into on February 6th, 2006, and that a safe had been taken.
He acknowledged that he had not reported the incident to gardaí.
He told Det Sgt Brennan that the safe contained customer lists, compression files, a cash box, savings books and about €21,200 in cash.
A small bag of jewellery was also taken, he said.
The garda asked why he had not reported the theft.
McNally alleged that on the night of the robbery, his daughter, Tanya Mulryan, revealed material of a “sexual nature” had been taken, and said that he spoke to her into the night about “certain things” that were new to him.
McNally said the discussion covered a wide range of issues and he believed that the material was sexually explicit.
In his closing statement, counsel for the prosecution, Desmond Dockery SC, said the subject matter of the trial was disturbing and the evidence shocking.
Referring to the safe, he suggested it was difficult to believe that the defendant did not notice a Tesco bag stuffed with 350 images to the rear of the safe.
Noting that there was more than €21,000 and passports in the safe, Mr Dockery said the matter would have been reported it if was adult pornography even if it caused embarrassment.