A former social worker with Tusla, the agency entrusted by the State with child protection, has been jailed for just one year despite being caught in possession of over 2,300 images of children being sexually abused.
Denis O’Donovan (34) of Cork City was handed a three year sentence with two suspended after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography at his former home at Forest Ridge, Doughcloyne, Togher, Cork.
Gardaí were alerted to the offence by the National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre in Canada, who directed them to the man’s address in Cork city where they found 2,350 images and 14 video files featuring children being sexually abused, Extra reports.
At Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin heard from Detective Garda David Noonan that O’Donovan had 232 category one images and 14 character one videos, character one being the most serious of category of videos and images portraying the abuse of children.
According to Extra, a spokesman Tusla said:
”Tusla – Child and Family Agency notes the determination of the court in relation to Mr Denis O’Donovan who was previously employed by Tusla as a social worker, working in our children and family services.
Tusla took immediate action once notified of the seizure of materials. It is very concerning to any organisation that an employee would act in such a way and given the sensitive nature of the work that the agency does it is particularly concerning.
However, the agency does not have control of the unknown actions or behaviours of its employees.”
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