Ex-teacher jailed over child abuse images and videos

A FORMER primary school deputy principal who admitted to possessing thousands of child abuse images and videos has been jailed for 18 months.

Brian Fitzgerald, who taught for 26 years, was logging on to a child abuse website using the internet username ‘Schoolteacher’.

The 49-year-old, of Golf Links Road, Youghal, Co. Cork, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possession of child abuse images on May 6, 2017. He also pleaded guilty to four distribution charges, to which he pleaded guilty, which occurred on February 26, March 3, and April 2 and 18 of that year.

Garda Sergeant Mark Ward said the offences came to light in 2017, when the Garda National Protective Services Unit raised the alarm. On May 6, 2017, Fitzgerald was arrested by gardaí in connection with the offences. He denied any wrongdoing and was released without charge. A search of his computers was carried out, and on May 25, 2018, a further warrant was obtained for his arrest. When questioned for a second time, he co-operated and made admissions about his wrongdoing. Sgt Ward said Fitzgerald had over 1,000 child abuse images and more than 2,000 videos.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin heard that Mr Fitzgerald is a single man without previous convictions. He lives with his elderly mother, whom he cares for. Judge Ó Donnabháin expressed shock at how easy it is to access images. He said: ‘This vile material is available at the touch of a button. Obviously that is wrong.’

He jailed Fitzgerald for three years, with the last 18 months suspended.