Ireland Wicklow man sentenced for possessing child pornography on smartphone
Martin Kenny, a 21-year-old shop assistant from Avonbeg Heights, Ballinaclash, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, was the suspect in a case of possessing child pornography on devices at his home on July 14, 2021. Gardaí became aware of the offences after the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children alerted them to suspicious activity on a Snapchat account, and a search warrant led to two devices, including a smartphone, being seized. The charges were brought under Section 6 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998, and Kenny pleaded guilty to two of them. On March 22, 2024, at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison with the final 12 months suspended, though one article's lead gives the sentence as six months, and he was ordered to be supervised by the Probation Service during the suspended term. No victim is identified in the reports.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced22 Mar
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Martin Kenny pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing child pornography on devices at his home.
- Examination of the devices found two images and five videos of child pornography, including two Category 1 videos.
- Where
- Kenny lives at Avonbeg Heights, Ballinaclash, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow.
- Other details
- Kenny is 21 years old and works as a shop assistant.
- Kenny was unable to provide information on where the offending material had been sourced.
- The court was told Kenny had been cooperative with gardaí.
- A psychological report assessed Kenny as being at a moderate risk of reoffending.
- When
- The offences took place on July 14, 2021.
- Investigation
- Gardaí became aware of the offences after the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children alerted them to suspicious activity on a Snapchat account.
- A search warrant led to two devices, including a smartphone, being seized from Kenny's home.
- Charges
- The charges were brought under Section 6 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998.
- In court
- Detective Garda Suzanne Ford told a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court about the investigation.
- Sentence
- Kenny was sentenced to 18 months in prison with the final 12 months suspended on condition he keeps the peace on his release, though one article's lead gives the sentence as six months.
- Kenny was ordered to be supervised by the Probation Service for the period of the suspended term.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatKenny pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing child pornography on devices at his home. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatExamination of the devices found two images and five videos of child pornography, including two Category 1 videos. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereKenny lives at Avonbeg Heights, Ballinaclash, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on July 14, 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí became aware of the offences after the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children alerted them to suspicious activity on a Snapchat account. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA search warrant led to two devices, including a smartphone, being seized from Kenny's home. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe charges were brought under Section 6 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceKenny was sentenced to 18 months in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe final 12 months of the sentence were suspended on condition he keeps the peace on his release. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceKenny was ordered to be supervised by the Probation Service for the period of the suspended term. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherKenny had been unable to provide information on where the offending material had been sourced. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe court was told Kenny had been cooperative with gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA psychological report assessed Kenny as being at a moderate risk of reoffending. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherKenny has been diagnosed with autism. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 22 Mar2024Wicklow man, 21, jailed for having child abuse images on his smartphone
Reports the sentencing of Martin Kenny at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court. The article gives both six months and 18 months as the sentence; the body says 18 months with the final 12 suspended.
convicted, Martin Kenny, 21, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Kenny