Ireland Ex-creche worker Ray Corbally says he downloaded child abuse images by mistake
Ray Corbally, 31, a former deputy manager at Links Childcare, pleaded guilty at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court in late January 2025 to a charge of possessing 16 child sex abuse images (12 of the most serious type) downloaded onto a Packard Bell laptop at an address in Ashford, Co Wicklow on 11 August 2021. He was originally sentenced to 18 months, with the final 12 months suspended, leaving six months to serve. On 4 February 2025, Judge Patrick Quinn fully suspended the 18-month sentence for two years, on conditions including compliance with the Probation Service, emotional coping services, and Tusla child safety plans. Corbally claims he downloaded the images by mistake after clicking a link in an open group chat on Kik.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced4 Feb
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Ray Corbally, 31, pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing 16 child sex abuse images, 12 of the most serious type, downloaded onto a Packard Bell laptop at an address in Ashford, Co Wicklow.
- When
- The offence date was 11 August 2021, and the guilty plea was entered at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court in late January 2025.
- Where
- The images were found at an address in Ashford, Co Wicklow; Corbally lives in Ballybough, Dublin 3.
- Cause
- Corbally claims he downloaded the images by mistake after clicking a link in an open group chat on Kik.
- Charges
- The charge was under Section 6 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.
- In court
- On 4 February 2025, Judge Patrick Quinn fully suspended the 18-month sentence for two years after defence counsel Edmund Sweetman BL cited two Court of Appeal rulings, and DPP counsel James Kelly BL did not oppose the application.
- Sentence
- The original sentence was 18 months with the final 12 months suspended, leaving six months to serve; it was then fully suspended for two years on conditions including Probation Service compliance, engagement with emotional coping services, and compliance with Tusla child safety plans.
- Other details
- Corbally was previously employed as a deputy manager at Links Childcare, which operates 14 creches across Dublin.
- Corbally had no previous convictions.
- Links Childcare was fined €1,000 at Dublin District Court for eight charges relating to incidents in February and March 2013, and in 2016 High Court settlements totalling more than €1 million were approved for 22 children arising from an RTE documentary.
19 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCorbally pleaded guilty to possession of child sex abuse material on computer equipment at an address in Ashford, Co Wicklow on 11 August 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe offence related to 16 images downloaded onto a Packard Bell laptop computer. (irishmirror.ie)
- what12 of the 16 images contained the most serious type of child sex abuse images. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCorbally was convicted of possession of 16 child abuse images downloaded onto a Packard Bell laptop (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCorbally claims he downloaded the images by mistake after clicking a link in an open group chat on Kik (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCorbally was previously employed as a deputy manager at Links Childcare (irishmirror.ie)
- whenCorbally presented himself to prison on 4 February 2025 to serve a six-month sentence (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe charge was under Section 6 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtCorbally returned to court to present himself to prison authorities to serve the six-month sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtCounsel for the DPP, James Kelly BL, did not oppose the application, acknowledging the judge was still at liberty to alter his ruling as Corbally had not formally entered custody. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Patrick Quinn fully suspended the 18-month sentence for two years (irishmirror.ie)
- courtLinks Creche & Montessori Ltd was fined €1,000 at Dublin District Court for eight charges relating to incidents in February and March 2013 (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJudge Patrick Quinn originally imposed 18 months with the final 12 months suspended, leaving six months to serve. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge fully suspended the 18-month sentence for a period of two years on the condition Corbally kept the peace and did not come to Garda attention. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceCorbally was ordered to follow all directions of the Probation Service, engage with emotional coping services, and comply with any child safety plans directed by Tusla. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceCorbally was ordered to follow Probation Service directions, engage with emotional coping services, and comply with child safety plans directed by Tusla (irishmirror.ie)
- otherCorbally had no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherLinks Childcare has 14 creches across Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
- otherIn 2016, High Court settlements totalling more than €1 million were approved for 22 children arising from the RTE documentary (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Feb2025Ex-creche worker convicted of possessing child abuse images says it was mistake
Interview with the convicted man claiming he downloaded the images by mistake; details of the full suspension of the sentence on 4 February 2025; background on Links Childcare and its history of complaints and legal actions.
convicted, Ray Corbally, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ray Corbally - 4 Feb2025Man convicted of child porn who was ready to go prison is spared jail term
Provides full details of the sentencing hearing where Judge Quinn fully suspended the 18-month sentence for two years after defence counsel Edmund Sweetman BL cited two Court of Appeal rulings; includes the specific conditions imposed (Probation Service, emotional coping services, Tusla child safety plans) and the DPP's non-opposition.
convicted, Ray Corbally, 31, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ray Corbally