A Church of Ireland lay minister from South East Clare has been jailed for possession of severe child porn images.
62 year old Gerald Fitzgerald of Grianan, Westbury, Corbally- who was also a former school caretaker- denied knowingly having the images on his computer at his home on March 19th 2010.
At Limerick District Court Judge Eugene O’ Kelly said it was concerning Ger Fitzgerald had
sought work as a primary school caretaker in Limerick when he had an appetite for child pornography.
He also worked as a diocesan lay minister.
The married father was charged with possessing 13 child porn images – The originals were deleted from his computer but traces were found in a file called Papist Humour – garda said some of them were at the most severe and grave level.
Fitzgerald admitted he had viewed child porn once or twice a week but had no idea that to view or download them was sex abuse- His barrister argued the 62 year old didn’t knowingly have them in his possession.
Judge O’Kelly said there was nothing normal about viewing child pornography and imposed a five-month jail sentence. He also ordered that Fitzgerald’s name be included on the sex offenders register for five years.
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