Saturday 31 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. 18839Possession of child pornography · Co. Dublin · 18 Jun 2022

Man handed suspended sentence for downloading child sexual abuse images

Joao Silva Pinto, a 25-year-old man of Mabbot Lane, Dublin 1, was the suspect in a case involving child sexual abuse material found on his phone. On 18 June 2022, gardaí searched his home and seized the phone after Google made a referral about material on an account in his name, and 78 videos were found after analysis. He later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possession of child pornography on a phone. The latest development, reported on 19 December 2023, is that Judge Martina Baxter handed him a 12-month sentence, suspended in its entirety on strict conditions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced19 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Joao Silva Pinto, a 25-year-old man, downloaded child sexual abuse material, including 78 videos.
Where
He lives at Mabbot Lane, Dublin 1.
When
The offence took place on 18 June 2022.
Investigation
  • Google made a referral to the online child exploitation unit about material on an account in his name.
  • Gardaí searched his home on 18 June 2022 and seized his phone.
  • Analysis of the phone found 78 videos, 43 category one and 35 category two, and 784 CGI anime images classed as category four were retrieved from a Google drive.
  • There was no evidence that he shared the images.
Charges
He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography on a phone.
In court
He appeared before Judge Martina Baxter at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Other details
  • The judge accepted his very early guilty plea, his cooperation with gardaí and his remorse as mitigating factors.
  • He has no previous convictions and has continued family support from his brother.
Sentence
He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended in its entirety on strict conditions, as reported on 19 December 2023.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man downloaded child sexual abuse material, including 78 videos. (rte.ie)
  • whereHe lives at Mabbot Lane, Dublin 1. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place on 18 June 2022. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGoogle made a referral to the online child exploitation unit about material on an account in his name. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí searched his home on 18 June and seized his phone. (rte.ie)
  • investigation78 videos were found on his phone after analysis. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThere was no evidence that he shared the images. (rte.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography on a phone. (rte.ie)
  • courtHe appeared before Judge Martina Baxter at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended in its entirety on strict conditions. (rte.ie)
  • otherForty-three of the videos were category one material and 35 were category two. (rte.ie)
  • other784 CGI anime images classed as category four material were retrieved from a Google drive. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe judge accepted an early guilty plea and his cooperation with gardaí as mitigating factors. (rte.ie)
  • otherHe has no previous convictions. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Dec2023
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    Man convicted of downloading child sexual abuse images

    Court report of the sentencing of Joao Silva Pinto. It gives the sentence, the mitigating factors, the investigation details (Google referral, phone search, 78 videos) and the defence's submissions. No earlier article matches this case.

    convicted, Joao Silva Pinto, 25, male, namedJoao Silva Pinto