Wednesday 28 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. 6517Possession of child-abuse material · Co. Dublin · 1 Feb 2022

Former Department of Justice press officer pleads guilty to possessing child-abuse material

Niall Colgan (39), a former Department of Justice press officer, is accused of possessing child-abuse material, namely two videos and two images of children, at his home at Muckross Park, Perrystown, Dublin 12, on February 1st, 2022. He pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on a Monday, reported on February 19th, 2024. Defence counsel asked for time for a report to be prepared. Judge Martin Nolan set a sentence date of May 7th, when the full facts will be heard.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted19 Feb
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Niall Colgan (39), a former Department of Justice press officer, pleaded guilty to possessing child-abuse material.
  • The material was two videos and two images of children.
Where
  • Colgan is of Muckross Park, Perrystown, Dublin 12.
  • The offence took place at Colgan's home address.
When
The offence was committed on February 1st, 2022.
Charges
Colgan pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography, described as two indecent videos and two indecent images of children.
In court
  • Colgan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on a Monday, as reported on February 19th, 2024.
  • Defence counsel Ronan Kennedy asked for a period of time to allow a report to be prepared.
Sentence
Judge Martin Nolan set a sentence date of May 7th, when the full facts will be heard.
Other details
Colgan previously worked in the press office of the Department of Justice.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA former Department of Justice press officer pleaded guilty to possessing child-abuse material. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe material was two videos and two images. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereColgan lives at Muckross Park, Perrystown, Dublin 12. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offence took place at Colgan's home address. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offence was committed on February 1st, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeColgan pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtColgan pleaded guilty to one count at court on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDefence counsel asked for time for a report to be prepared. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Martin Nolan set a sentence date of May 7th, when the full facts will be heard. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherColgan previously worked in the press office of the Department of Justice. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Feb2024
    Convictedirishtimes.com, first report
    Former Department of Justice official pleads guilty to possessing child-abuse material

    Colgan pleaded guilty to one count at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; the sentence date is set for May 7th and the full facts will be heard then.

    convicted, Niall Colgan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Colgan