A 45-year-old Bishopstown man has been jailed for 18 months for a number of charges relating to child sex abuse imagery.
Owen Rea of Westgate Road in Bishopstown pled guilty before Cork Circuit Criminal Court to each of the four charges against him.
"Owen Rea, with an address at Westgate Road in Bishopstown was charged with: distributing child sex abuse imagery using the electronic messaging services Telegram and Kik, with producing a text conversation where he boasted "that he had had sexual intercourse with a ten-year-old child", and with having 971 child pornography images and 129 child pornography video files on a mobile phone in his home.
Det. Garda Sheena Dowling told Judge Helen Boyle that Rea was discovered when he started a relationship with a woman he met on a dating site whilst out on bail, using the Irish version of his name.
The woman became suspicious of Rea and googled the English version of his name.
When she realised that the accused was facing child porn charges, she ended the relationship and contacted Gardaí.
Defence barrister Emmet Boyle emphasised that his client was involved in the offending behaviour for twelve days.
In sentencing, Judge Boyle noted that Rea had cooperated fully with Gardaí and made full admissions, but said it was 'somewhat unusual' that the State disagreed with Rea's doctor that he is now a low risk for repeat offending.
Judge Boyle jailed Rea for two years, with the final six months suspended.
If you have been affected by this story, you can contact the Sexual Violence Centre Cork by free phoning 1800 496 496 or texting 087 1533 393.
