Case of judge on child porn charge is put back

The case against Judge Brian Curtin of the Circuit Court, who faces a child pornography charge, was put back for mention until…

The case against Judge Brian Curtin of the Circuit Court, who faces a child pornography charge, was put back for mention until Tuesday next at the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee yesterday.

Judge Curtin (52), who was in court yesterday, is charged with knowingly possessing child pornography under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998, at his home at Ard na Lí, Tralee, on May 27th, 2002.

Ms Catherine Irvine, from the Chief State Prosecutor's Office, told Judge Carroll Moran that she and Mr Robert Pierse, solicitor for Judge Curtin, had discussed the case at length and had agreed that it should be adjourned until the next sittings (in March) for trial. Judge Moran asked how long she thought the trial would take. Ms Irvine replied that she thought it would take two weeks.

Mr Pierse, asked the same question, replied "Hopefully a day". Judge Moran then said he would put the case back for mention until Tuesday next. He had to assume the case would take longer than the estimates if it took up to two weeks and he would have to rearrange the list.