The Oireachtas Committee investigating the behaviour of Circuit Court Judge Brian Curtin has finally seized the computer on which he allegedly downloaded child porn, it emerged today.
Judge Curtin was acquitted of possessing child pornography in 2004 after it emerged that a garda search warrant used to raid his Tralee home and seize his computer was out of date.
Sources close to the committee, which met at 2pm today, have confirmed that it has finally succeeded in taking possession of the PC.
Computer experts acting for the all-party Oireachtas group and for the judge will now separately examine the computer.
Last month, the Oireachtas Committee, which is chaired by Fianna Fail TD Denis O'Donovan, agreed to pay the judge's legal costs for dealing with the inquiry.
The committee is gathering evidence regarding Judge Curtin's behaviour, which will then be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Oireachtas will then make a decision on whether to remove him from office.
Legal challenges have delayed the work of the committee for 18 months but it needs to complete its deliberations before the General Election when it will disband.