Friday 30 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 17223Possession of child pornography · Co. Donegal · 12 Feb 2023

Donegal teen to face Circuit Court over child sex material possession

In February 2023, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly in possession of child pornography at an address in Letterkenny, County Donegal, after gardaí seized her device under a warrant. She was charged with knowingly possessing five videos and eight images under section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998. In May 2024, District Court Judge Éiteáin Cunningham refused the application for the case to be heard in the Children's Court, so it will go to Letterkenny Circuit Court, and bail was granted with conditions. The latest development is that a book of evidence is due to be served on the girl on 15 July.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court16 May
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
Where
The alleged offence took place at an address in Letterkenny, County Donegal.
When
The alleged offence is dated 12 February 2023.
What happened
The girl, aged 17, is charged with knowingly possessing child pornography: five videos and eight images.
Charges
The charge is under section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.
Investigation
  • Detectives obtained a warrant and seized the girl's device.
  • Analysis of the material found two category 1 videos, three category 2 videos and eight category 3 images.
Other details
  • Gardaí alleged, at an earlier court appearance, that the girl used Instagram to distribute sexual items.
  • Gardaí said analysis of her search history showed she specifically sought out such material.
  • The girl's solicitor said she wishes to plead guilty.
In court
  • District Court Judge Éiteáin Cunningham refused the application for the case to be heard in the Children's Court, saying she did not find the offence to be a minor one.
  • The case will now go to Letterkenny Circuit Court.
  • The girl's solicitor applied for the case to stay in the Children's Court, and gardaí opposed the application.
  • The girl was not present when the judge confirmed she was refusing jurisdiction.
  • Bail was granted on conditions including no unsupervised access to social media.
  • A book of evidence is due to be served on the girl on 15 July.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe offence is alleged to have happened at an address in Letterkenny. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe girl was charged with an offence dated 12 February 2023. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationDetectives obtained a warrant and seized the device. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationAnalysis of the material found two category 1 videos. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationThe material also included three category 2 videos and eight category 3 images. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe girl is charged with knowingly possessing child pornography: five videos and eight images. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeThe charge is under section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtDistrict Court Judge Éiteáin Cunningham refused the application to have the case heard in the Children's Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe judge said she did not find the offence to be a minor one. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe case will now go to the higher court. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtThe girl was not present when the judge confirmed she was refusing jurisdiction. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtHer solicitor applied for the case to stay in the Children's Court, and gardaí opposed it. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtBail was granted on conditions including no unsupervised access to social media. (donegallive.ie)
  • courtA book of evidence is due to be served on the girl on 15 July. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherGardaí alleged the girl used Instagram to distribute sexual items; this was said at an earlier court appearance. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherAnalysis of her search history showed she specifically sought out such material. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherHer solicitor said she wishes to plead guilty. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 May2024
    In courtdonegallive.ie, first report
    Donegal teen to face Circuit Court as Judge refuses application in child sex material case

    Reports that Judge Éiteáin Cunningham refused the section 75 application, so the case goes to Letterkenny Circuit Court. Sets out the charge, the seized material and the bail conditions.

    accused, 17, female