Thursday 29 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. 8361Possession and production of child pornography · Co. Dublin

Dublin teenager pleads guilty to possessing and producing child abuse images and videos

A 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty at the Dublin Children's Court to possessing and producing child pornography, offences tied to devices seized from his home in January 2024, when he was 15. Garda investigators seized the devices, and the Garda National Cybercrime Bureau found 2,821 images and videos, although the headline reports about 1,700. Judge Paul Kelly accepted jurisdiction, recorded the guilty plea and remanded the boy on continuum bail. The latest development is that he is to appear again for a psychiatric and probation report to be furnished before sentencing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted1 Sep
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to possessing and producing child pornography.
Where
The guilty plea was entered at the Dublin Children's Court in Dublin.
When
Electronic devices were seized from the boy's home in January 2024, when he was aged 15.
Investigation
  • A Garda Divisional Protective Service Unit investigation led to the seizure of the devices.
  • The Garda National Cybercrime Bureau detected sexual material on a phone and an iPad, 2,821 images and videos in total.
Other details
  • The headline reports about 1,700 child abuse images and videos, while the key facts put the total at 2,821.
  • The boy had 105 images and 46 videos in the child sexual category.
  • In the child exposure category he had 2,282 images, 426 videos and eight child synthetic images.
  • Almost half of the images, 1,300, were duplicates, and many videos were self-generated or screenshot recordings of the boy speaking to girls believed to be aged 13 to 16.
  • Another video featured a child as young as eight.
  • The defence said the teenager has been attending specialised counselling for young people involved in sexual offending.
In court
  • The State argued the case should go to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers.
  • The defence asked the court to accept jurisdiction, and Judge Paul Kelly accepted it.
  • The judge recorded the guilty plea and remanded the boy on continuum bail.
Sentence
The boy is to appear again for a psychiatric and probation report to be furnished to the court ahead of sentencing.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to possessing and producing child pornography. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe guilty plea was entered at the Dublin Children's Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenElectronic devices were seized from his home in January 2024, when he was aged 15. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA Garda Divisional Protective Service Unit investigation led to the seizure of the devices. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe Garda National Cybercrime Bureau detected a substantial volume of sexual material on a phone and an iPad, 2,821 images and videos in total. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe State argued the case should go to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe defence asked the court to accept jurisdiction. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Paul Kelly accepted jurisdiction. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge recorded a guilty plea and remanded the boy on continuum bail. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe boy is to appear again for a psychiatric and probation report to be furnished to the court ahead of sentencing. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherHe had 105 images and 46 videos in the child sexual category. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherIn the child exposure category he had 2,282 images, 426 videos and eight child synthetic images. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherAlmost half of the images, 1,300, were duplicates. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherAnother video featured a child as young as eight. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the teenager has been attending specialised counselling for young people involved in sexual offending. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Sep2026
    Convictedthejournal.ie, first report
    Dublin teenager pleads guilty to possessing and producing 1,700 child abuse images and videos

    Reports the guilty plea at the Dublin Children's Court, the jurisdiction ruling, the forensic findings and the remand pending sentencing. No existing case in the list covers this boy or this court appearance.

    convicted, 17, male