The High Court yesterday allowed bail to a German man charged with having child pornography in Dublin last month. Gardai had opposed bail.
Mr Tobias Vollner (21), a computer technical support representative, was ordered by Mr Justice Kelly to stay at a Dublin address. He is charged with knowingly possessing child pornography at Grange Park Drive, Raheny, on December 14th last. The judge also ordered that £4,000, which Mr Vollner's father had brought to Ireland, be lodged in court to ensure the defendant would turn up for his trial.
Mr Vollner must also surrender his German certificate of identity, not apply for a passport and report daily to Kevin Street Garda station. Det Garda Thomas Lillis, who opposed bail, said further and more serious charges were likely to be preferred against Mr Vollner within the next few weeks.
The case, when it came to be tried, would be heard on indictment, and a preliminary file had been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, he said. Mr Vollner had been in custody since his arrest on December 14th.
The court was told Mr Vollner had expert computer skills and was fluent in English.
Given that it was likely to be a number of months before the defendant would face trial, and that he had no previous convictions, Mr Justice Kelly said he was prepared to grant bail on the terms outlined.