Ireland Case No. 14505Possession of child pornography · Co. Clare · 10 Oct 2019
Pensioner jailed over child sexual abuse images found on computer left for repair in Limerick
On 10 October 2019, staff at a Compu B store in Limerick found two child sexual abuse images on a computer that Maurice Snowdon, a 78-year-old man from Ogonnelloe, Scariff, County Clare, had left for repair. Gardaí obtained a warrant from Limerick District Court and seized three Apple computers and an SD card from his home, containing 11,583 files. Snowdon pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to four counts of possession of child pornography. On 19 February 2025, Judge Colin Daly sentenced him, with reports giving either a one-year jail term or 18 months with the final six months suspended, and ordered him onto the sex offenders register for 10 years with Probation Service supervision after release.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced19 Feb
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Maurice Snowdon, aged 78, of Ogonnelloe, Scariff, County Clare, was sentenced for possessing child sexual abuse material.
- Where
- Snowdon left the computer at a Compu B store in Limerick for repair.
- When
- Store staff asked gardaí to attend the shop on October 10, 2019.
- Cause
- Staff found two child sexual abuse images in the iTunes library on the computer's hard drive.
- Investigation
- Gardaí obtained a warrant from Limerick District Court and seized three Apple computers and an SD card from Snowdon's home.
- The seized material comprised 11,583 child sexual abuse files, including images and about 14 hours of video; the articles describe it as over 11,000 images and videos.
- Charges
- Snowdon pleaded guilty to four counts of possession of child pornography.
- In court
- The case was heard at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Colin Daly.
- Other details
- The judge said 1,145 of the seized images were in the most serious category of child sexual abuse material.
- Defence counsel cited Snowdon's guilty plea and lack of any previous convictions in mitigation.
- Sentence
- The sentence is reported as a year in jail in one article and as 18 months with the final six months suspended in another.
- Snowdon was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.
- After release, Snowdon will be supervised by the Probation Service.
23 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMaurice Snowdon, aged 78, of Ogonnelloe, Scarriff, County Clare, was sentenced for possessing child sexual abuse material. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatMaurice Snowdon, aged 78, lived in Ogonnelloe, Scariff, Co Clare. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatStaff found two images of child abuse in the iTunes library on the hard drive. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenChild sexual abuse images were found when Snowdon dropped his computer into Compu B in Limerick to be repaired. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenStore staff asked gardaí to attend the shop on October 10, 2019. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí were alerted after staff at a Limerick store found two images of child sexual abuse on a computer Snowdon had left there for repairs. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationGardaí obtained a warrant from Limerick District Court and seized three computers and a digital SD storage card from Snowdon's home, containing 11,583 images and up to 14 hours of videos. (limerickpost.ie)
- investigationGardaí executed a search warrant at Snowdon's address and seized three Apple computers and an SD card. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationA total of 11,583 child sexual abuse files, including images and 14 hours of videos, were seized. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeSnowdon pleaded guilty to four counts of possession of child pornography. (limerickpost.ie)
- chargeSnowdon pleaded guilty to four charges of possession of child pornography. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe sentence was handed down by Judge Colin Daly. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Limerick Criminal Circuit Court. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe article states he was jailed for a year after admitting downloading over 11,000 images and videos of children. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceSnowdon was given a prison sentence of 18 months with the final six months suspended. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceThe judge ordered Snowdon to be put on the sex offender's register for 10 years. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceThe judge ordered that Snowdon be supervised by the probation services after his sentence ends. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceJudge Colin Daly imposed an 18-month jail sentence with the last six months suspended. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceAfter release, Snowdon will be supervised by the Probation Service. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceSnowdon was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe judge said 1,145 of the images seized were in the most serious category of child sex abuse material. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherDefence counsel cited Snowdon's guilty plea and lack of any previous convictions in mitigation. (limerickpost.ie)
- otherSnowdon has no previous convictions. (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Feb2025Pensioner jailed after giving computer containing child sex abuse images into Limerick store for repair
Sentencing report at Limerick Criminal Circuit Court. Matches no existing case in the list.
convicted, Maurice Snowdon, 78, male, named, irish (judged from name)Maurice Snowdon - 19 Feb2025Paedophile pensioner jailed for possessing over 11,000 depraved images and videos of children
Reports the sentencing of Maurice Snowdon, including the number of images seized, the sentence, the register order and probation supervision. The article is dated 19 February 2025 and gives no incident date.
convicted, Maurice Snowdon, 78, named, irish (judged from name)Maurice Snowdon