Laois man jailed for child pornography possession

A man who posed online as a young girl was handed a prison sentence for possessing child pornography in Laois. 

Gerard Hannick, 58, of Kirwan Park, Mountmellick, admitted to one count of possession of child pornography for having nine videos and two images of girls aged between six and 15 engaged in sexual acts on his Samsung phone at his address on August 23, 2021. 

He appeared before a sitting of Portlaoise Circuit Court where Judge Keenan Johnson outlined the details of the case. 

Judge Johnson noted the man had posed online as a young girl and had said being online gave him a sense of control. 

The man made full admissions when caught and admitted that he had “swapped and exchanged” child exploitation images. 

Judge Johnson said the offence was not a victimless crime as it involved the exploitation of young children. He said the man had engaged with a One in Four where it was noted that he needs to address his impulsivity and had little insight into the impact of his offending. 

Judge Keenan said the man should get credit for his early plea. He said he had expressed “shame and remorse” for his offending. He said the man, who has no previous convictions, was now on a sex offenders register and his “siblings have disowned him, as have his family.”

At a previous hearing, the court considered a suspended sentence and the defendant was given the opportunity to pay €6,000. However, the man didn’t have the financial means to pay.

Judge Keennan sentenced the man to two years and six months in prison but he suspended the final 15 months for four years on a number of conditions. These included that he keep the peace for four years and remain under the supervision of the probation services for 18 months post release.