MAN ACCUSED OF POSSESSING OVER 4,500 CHILD ABUSE IMAGES
Update 12/05/2026: A man who downloaded more than 4,500 images and videos of child sexual abuse material over an eight-day period before handing himself into gardaí (police) has been jailed for 18 months.Aaron Catchpole (32) also admitted to gardaí that he had been contacting young girls on Instagram and asking them to send him nude pictures, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard on Monday.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… A man has been charged with possessing more than 4,500 child abuse pictures on a mobile phone just over four years ago.
Aaron Catchpole, 31, with a hostel address on Frenchman's Lane, Dublin 1, was arrested this morning after gardai received directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
He then appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court charged with a single count under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.
He is accused of knowingly possessing 4,515 child abuse images on a Sony Experia mobile phone on September 17, 2020, at an address in Bray, Co Wicklow.
Detective Garda Edel Murphy said the accused "made no reply" when charged.
She informed Judge Kelly that the DPP directed that Mr Catchpole face trial on indictment, meaning the case will go forward to the Circuit Court, which has broader sentencing powers.
Mr Catchpole did not address the court and has yet to enter a plea.
Detective Garda Murphy asked for bail conditions to be imposed, and the defence solicitor, Eoghan O'Sullivan, said that was on consent.
Judge Kelly told the accused he must notify of any address change and sign on at a Dublin Garda station every Monday.
Legal aid was granted after the judge noted the accused was unemployed and getting social welfare.
He was ordered to return to the District Court in March for prosecutors to serve him with a book of evidence and a return-for-trial order to be granted.
