Gardaí are preparing to prosecute a number of individuals following a 14-month investigation into the downloading of child pornography in which they seized computer equipment, it emerged last night.
Searches were carried out yesterday as part of the ongoing investigation into child pornography and prosecutions are now expected to follow. Private residences and business premises were searched.
The 14-month old investigation codenamed Operation Iron is being managed by the Garda Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Investigation Unit (DVSAIU).
Previous forensic examinations of computer equipment owned by suspected child pornographers, has led to people appearing before the courts. Operation Iron follows a similar investigation in 2002 Operation Amethyst in which over 100 homes and businesses were searched.
Operation Amethyst at the time was a highly co-ordinated operation aimed at the arrest of those engaged in child pornography and required very careful planning as it was desirable that all the residences were raided at approximately the same time.
Arising from this a businessman, Tim Allen, was sentenced to 240 hours community service and ordered to pay €40,000 to a child welfare charity at Midleton District Court, Co Cork, after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.
Circuit Court Judge Brian Curtin was acquitted on similar charges after the search warrant used to enter his house was found to be out of date.