Child porn case collapses

The trial of a circuit court judge charged with having child pornography on his computer in the Republic of Ireland has collapsed.

Judge Brian Curtain has been found not guilty by the direction of the trial judge at Tralee in County Kerry on Friday.

The trial judge Carroll Moran found Judge Curtain not guilty after it was revealed in court that the search warrant used in the police raid had expired the previous day.

Judge Moran said the state had to be aware of this fact.

He added that it was wrong for the prosecution to bring the case to trial knowing the evidence had been collected in an inadmissable way.

A Garda spokesman said they accepted the verdict and would study the ruling to see how it affects them operationally.

It is unclear whether Judge Curtain, who denied having child pornography, will resume his career on the bench.

He may be offered compensation to retire early.

The government has the less likely option of seeking his impeachment to remove him from office.