Man jailed for six months for possession of child sexual abuse material in Dublin
Michael Kearns, 58, was jailed for six months in July 2025 after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material found on his home computer in Clonsilla, Dublin. Gardaí searched his home in April 2019 after the Online Child Exploitation Unit was tipped off by an international organisation, and 207 images and 164 movie files involving girls and boys aged five to 15 were found. He pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at his home address between April 2017 and April 2019. The judge imposed a two-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, citing mitigating factors including a cancer diagnosis and the death of his brother.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced7 Jul
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- 207 images and 164 movie files containing child sexual abuse imagery involving girls and boys aged five to 15 were found on his home computer.
- Where
- The search took place at his home in Clonsilla, Dublin.
- When
- Gardaí searched his home in April 2019, and the offence period was between April 2017 and April 2019.
- Investigation
- The Online Child Exploitation Unit was tipped off by an international organisation.
- Charges
- He pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at his home address.
- Sentence
- He was sentenced to two years with the final 18 months suspended, resulting in a six-month custodial sentence.
- Other details
- He has no previous convictions and immediately admitted to having material on two devices when his home was searched.
- Mitigating factors included a cancer diagnosis and the death of his brother, and he has since received counselling.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- what207 images and 164 movie files containing child abuse imagery were found on his home computer (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe abuse material involved girls and boys between the ages of five and 15 (irishtimes.com)
- whenGardaí searched his home in April 2019 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Online Child Exploitation Unit was tipped off by an international organisation (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at his home address between April 2017 and April 2019 (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe maximum sentence for the offence is five years (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe final sentence was two years with the final 18 months suspended (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was jailed for six months (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe search followed a tip-off from an international organisation (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe has no previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe immediately admitted to having material on two devices when his home was searched (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe has since received counselling (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe was supported in court by his wife and one of his two children (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Jul2025Man caught with child sexual abuse imagery involving ‘significant level of depravity’ is jailed for six months
Sentencing report detailing the judge's reasoning, mitigating factors including the defendant's cancer diagnosis and his brother's death, and the final six-month custodial sentence.
convicted, Michael Kearns, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Kearns