Man turned to child porn after becoming disinterested in adult porn

A MAN who was found in possession of child pornography images started to view child pornography because he had become disinterested in legal adult porn.

Aidan Coughlan with an address at Castlehill Park, Castlebar appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court where he received a two-year suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography.

Mr Coughlan admitted to having 117 images and videos of child pornography on a Dropbox online storage account.

In sentencing Mr Coughlan, Judge Eoin Garavan commented that this case showed the danger of engaging in adult pornography as it can lead to something more sinister.

He noted that Mr Coughlan turned to using child pornography after becoming disinterested in legal adult porn and wanted something new with a more taboo element to it. He said there were similarities with drug addiction as Mr Coughlan's escapades in wanting something new and taboo led to him becoming addicted to child porn and being before the courts.

A previous sitting of the court heard evidence from Detective Inspector Gary McEntee who explained that on August 4, 2017 he received information from the Garda National Protective Services Bureau that child pornography had been found on a Dropbox account registered to the defendant's personal email address.

Search warrant

A SEARCH warrant was obtained for the address where he had been renting a room on August 25, 2017 and a number of items including a laptop and two mobile phones were seized. When questioned by gardaí, Mr Coughlan admitted to uploading, viewing and distributing child pornography to his Dropbox account.

Mr Coughlan had no previous convictions and Det Insp McEntee accepted the defendant was not tech savvy and did not know what a Zip folder was.

Mr Diarmuid Connolly, counsel for Mr Coughlan, said the incident took place six and a half years ago and since then there has been no offending behaviour and he pleaded at the first opportunity.

He said his client has been unable to obtain a place on the Safer Lives programme for sex offenders but is willing to do it when a place becomes available.

Mr Connolly said his client is ashamed and remorseful for what he did and he has insight and empathy with the victims of child porn. Mr Coughlan, he said, now lives and is employed in Galway and stated that the Probation Service recommended two more years of supervision. He asked Judge Garavan not to impose a custodial sentence.

Judge Garavan noted that the offending behaviour dated back to 2012 when Mr Coughlan was in his early 20s and he was now in his 30s. He also added that he had to take into account the victims in the images who are all of a young age and who have become victims to serve the ‘titillation of people like Mr Coughlan’.

Fully employed

HOWEVER, he also accepted that Mr Coughlan is now fully employed and is receiving the support of the Probation Services as well as support within his Church. He noted that the Probation Services consider him to be a moderate risk of reoffending.

Judge Garavan said he did not believe that sending Mr Coughlan to prison will benefit him or society if he continues to engage with the Probation Services and completes the Safer Lives programme.

He imposed a two year sentence but suspended it for a three year period on the condition he remains under the supervision of the Probation Services for a further two years and completes the Safer Lives programme.