A former naval reserve officer and Eircom supervisor has been given a ten-month suspended sentence for the possession of 169 images of child pornography.
Michael O'Cearbhaill, 51, with an address at Gaggin in Bandon in Co Cork, had pleaded guilty at Cork District Court to having the images on his laptop at Eircom Building, Mount Agnes Road, Fairhill, on dates between 1 February 2007 and 15 February 2007.
The court was told that the images in such cases were rated in severity on a scale of one to five, five being the most severe. Most of these images were category three with a few in category four.
Judge Con O'Leary sentenced O'Cearbhaill to ten months in prison, suspending the sentence on the basis he pay a fine of €1,900, have no computer in his home and complete a treatment course at the Lighthouse Centre.
He must also have no access to a computer with internet access in a public building or at work for six years.
His name is also to be placed on the sex offenders' register for six years.
