Man jailed after ‘relapsing’ into child pornography

A man with a previous conviction for possession of child pornography who admitted to gardaí he had relapsed into viewing the material has been jailed for one year.

John O’Dowd (42) was given a nine-month suspended sentence in the UK in 2003 and was put on the sex offenders’ register there. When he moved to Ireland he was monitored by the Garda.

He made the admission about a “lapse” in his internet viewing habits to a garda who had called to interview him as part of that process.

O'Dowd, of Beech Park, Lucan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography at his home on September 4th, 2010.

Judge Melanie Greally said that a psychiatric report set out O’Dowd’s personal history which had not been without challenges, but noted that he had not taken personal responsibility and resented or objected to the supervisory role taken by the Garda.

She noted he had completed a treatment programme at the Grenada Institute.

Judge Greally imposed an 18-month sentence and suspended the final six months on strict conditions including that he avail of all therapy available to him.