Mass card salesman jailed for child porn has conviction quashed

A Mass card salesman jailed for 18 months for possession of child pornography has had his conviction quashed.

A retrial was ordered for Thomas McNally, Foynes Court, Longford, in relation to one of two counts of possession of material in 2006.

Mr McNally (52) was jailed in October 2011 after a Longford Circuit Criminal Court jury found him guilty on two counts of possessing child pornography on February 6th and 7th, 2006.

He had pleaded not guilty and appealed his conviction and sentence.

In January 2012, Mr McNally was granted bail on compassionate grounds due to illness pending his appeal.

Yesterday, a three-judge Court of Criminal Appeal set aside the conviction in relation to both counts, but said there was a basis for a retrial in relation to one count.