03/09/2013

Gardaí Officer Charged Over Child Abuse Images

A serving gardaí officer has been charged with possession of 655 child sexual abuse images.

It is understood that the charges relate to images and movies of child abuse, child exposure and computer generated images.

By court order the officer cannot be identified but is understood to be aged in his 50s and stationed in Dublin, he has been suspended from duty.

According to RTÉ, the accused has been told that should he plead guilty to the charges, his case would be dealt with by the district court, where penalties are less severe.

The officer was granted free legal aid and reporting restrictions, enforced at a previous hearing, were renewed.

The gardaí was remanded on continuing bail and will appear again next month.

(MH/CD)

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