Jail term for child porn offence

Man advertised child pornography on the internet

A man from Northern Ireland has been sentenced to two-and-a half years in jail in the Irish Republic for advertising child pornography on the internet.

Thomas Muldoon, originally from Crossmaglen in County Armagh, pleaded guilty to the offence.

Muldoon, now of Spring Lawn, Ashley Court, Waterford, admitted carrying out the offence in May 1999 when he was living in Dungarvan, County Waterford.

He was detected by a German police officer who he unwittingly sent pornographic images of children.

Sentencing him, Judge Sean O'Donovan ordered that his name be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

'Emotionally detached'

A concurrent sentence of 18 months was also imposed for handling a stolen lap-top computer.

The judge said the accused man had a fascination with computers that was similar to a dependency on drink or drugs and he was emotionally detached from what went on.

The German police officer and the Irish police were praised for their investigations in the case.

Muldoon, who has a partner and a three-year-old child, said he was "ashamed, embarrassed and disgusted" for what he had done to himself, his girlfriend and his family.

He said he now realised it was wrong and was not a victimless crime.