Garda ‘puts blame on gay date for child abuse images’

A GARDA accused of possessing child abuse images told investigators that the photos and videos were ‘sick’ and that one of the men he picks up on gay dating websites must have downloaded them on to his computer.

Joseph O’Connor, 58, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of possession of child pornography at his home in west Dublin on dates between July 30 and August 2, 2011.

Detective Superintendent Colm O’Malley told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that on June 21, 2012, he arrested the defendant and later interviewed him about images found on a Dell laptop seized from his home during a search in August 2011.

The defendant told gardaí that he would bring men, who he met on ‘hook up’ websites like Manhunt, back to his home and they would often use the laptop, the jury was told.

Mr O’Connor said that in the days before the laptop was seized by gardaí a man named Patryk Farrell met him at his home for sex. He said the next day his laptop ‘started going ballistic’ and he was convinced Mr Farrell corrupted the computer, the court heard.

He told gardaí he spent most of the day ringing technical support in Pakistan and invited gardaí to check his telephone records.

Videos found on the seized laptop showed boys under the age of ten subjected to explicit acts. Twelve movies retrieved showed boys between the age of ten and 17 with two files depicting children being subjected to explicit acts, the court has heard.

As garda interviewers took the accused through the child sexual images and videos, he repeatedly denied knowledge of them.

‘I have never downloaded or viewed child pornography. Somebody else must have downloaded them,’ he said.

The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury of ten men and two women.