Gardaí last night admitted they had received information from the Austrian authorities about possible Irish involvement in a global child pornographic ring. They were unable to say, however, whether an investigation began immediately when they were first contacted by Austrian officials last August.
Austrian investigators said yesterday the Garda was the only European police force that did not reply when it was contacted in relation to a worldwide child-pornography ring. The Austrian police revealed on Wednesday that they had identified more than 2,300 computer-users from 77 countries - including two based in Ireland - who had viewed videos and pictures of young children being sexually abused.
The Garda had at first disputed statements made by Austrian officials that Ireland had been informed but had failed to contact them for further information.
However, following a large number of media queries on the matter throughout yesterday, a statement was released by Garda headquarters, confirming the Austrian position that the information had been sent to Ireland.
The statement read: "An Garda Síochána can confirm that it received correspondence from the Austrian authorities via Interpol in August 2006 in relation to the alleged involvement of Irish-based computer users in the distribution of child pornography.
"This information has been referred to the relevant operational sections of An Garda Síochána and an investigation is ongoing."
Harald Gremel, head of the Austrian federal criminal police's investigation, called "Operation Flo", confirmed yesterday that the information was sent to the Garda headquarters on August 22nd last. "Ireland was the only European country that didn't reply, along with several South American countries," he said. "It's up to every country whether they pursue this matter or not and whether they pursue people who want access to child pornography. Whoever doesn't want our information, well that's their concern."
Security sources in Dublin said "more than half" of the countries contacted had not replied. One source said the information was "very poorly presented".
The information was transmitted via Interpol's internet-based communications network linking the organisation's 186 member countries. Yesterday the Garda contacted the Austrian police requesting the file reference number for the transmission made in August containing the information. The Irish Times understands that when the Garda authorities received the number they checked their database and found the transmission which they previously said they had no knowledge of.