Paedophile inquiry ongoing for year, say gardaí

A Garda investigation into an internet paedophile ring uncovered by police in the United Kingdom has been ongoing for up to a year, it emerged today.

Gardaí told ireland.comthat intelligence from Britain's Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, sent through Europol, had led to several leads of inquiry.

A Garda spokesman confirmed a man in the south east had been arrested in March and that computer equipment had been seized. A file is being prepared for the DPP.

The spokesman said the aim was to bring people connected with the case before the courts.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed yesterday it had made two arrests and that one man remained in custody.

British police said the operation had already led to the rescue of 31 children and that agencies in 35 countries had identified more than 700 suspects. About 200 of these are based in the United Kingdom, they said.

British police made their investigation public yesterday after prosecuting the network's ringleader Timothy Cox (28) at Ipswich Crown Court.

He had been co-ordinating the network through a UK-based internet site called "Kids, the Light of Our Lives".

After Mr Cox's arrest last September, officers spent 10 days infiltrating the chatroom, assuming his identity to collect evidence about other users.

Gordon Mackintosh (33), from Hertfordshire, tried to resurrect the website after Cox's arrest. He has admitted 27 charges of making, possessing and distributing the material and is due to be sentenced on June 29th.