Suspended sentence for Donegal man found with over 300 child sex images and videos
A Snapchat account linked to the man's phone was tracked down and detectives raided his home, where 243 images and 78 videos depicting child sex material were found on a laptop
A Donegal man found in possession of over 300 pieces of child sex material on his laptop has avoided jail - but has been warned that a failure to engage with the Probation Service could trigger a term behind bars.
Gardai found 243 images and 78 videos were found on an Acer laptop belonging to Dean Cullen.
The 41-year-old, of Ballylevin, Manorcunningham, was handed a two-year suspended sentence when he appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court.
Judge John Aylmer previously paused on sentencing Cullen having said that it was a matter of “grave concern” that a report from a doctor did not address a question of Cullen’s “minimisation” of his offending.
Mr Colm Smyth SC, barrister for Cullen, told the court that a report from One In Four said that his client engaged fully. Since his previous appearance at court on the matter, Cullen has attended a further eight sessions with One In Four.
Mr Smyth said: “He has attended all sessions and he continues to show shame and remorse.”
The barrister said that his client “finds the shame difficult to handle and has no-one else to blame”.
He said the behaviour seemed to stem from a background of “quite severe domestic abuse” which Cullen witnessed in early childhood. Mr Smyth said that Cullen has consistently expressed shame, remorse and guilt and would benefit from continued therapeutic work.
He said that while Cullen is more open and honest now in sessions he still struggles with the day-to-day consequences of his offending.
He implored Judge Aylmer not to impose a custodial sentence, due to the very harsh regime he witnesses in his home situation, his alcoholism and the mental health issues.
At a previous sitting, Judge Aylmer had adjourned the matter to allow Cullen “put his best foot forward” and added: “If the same concerns are still there, it will be difficult to contemplate a suspended sentence”.