CHARLIE ROBINSON FROM LAOIS SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN PORTLAOISE

In January 2019, a serious case involving a man from Laois, Charlie Robinson, came before the Portlaoise Circuit Court, highlighting the ongoing issue of child exploitation and online abuse. Robinson, aged 21 and residing in Barrowhouse, Laois, was charged with possessing a significant number of illegal images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. The charges stemmed from an incident that took place at his residence on March 24, 2016, which prompted a police investigation into his online activities.

Authorities received a tip indicating that the IP address associated with Robinson’s home was being used to download and access child abuse material. Acting on this information, law enforcement officials obtained a search warrant to investigate further. During the search, they seized Robinson’s iPhone and iPad, devices that contained disturbing evidence of his involvement in the possession of illegal content.

Upon examination of the seized devices, investigators discovered a total of 194 videos and 272 images depicting child sexual abuse. The material was classified on a scale of severity, with the content ranking between levels 3 and 4, indicating serious but not the most extreme forms of abuse. The material included both non-penetrative and penetrative sexual acts involving children, which is a grave concern for law enforcement and society alike.

In a voluntary statement to the Gardaí, Robinson admitted that he had been accessing child abuse images over the past two years. He revealed that he had gained access to such material through a website on the dark web, a hidden part of the internet often associated with illegal activities. His admission shed light on the extent of his online activity and his ongoing engagement with illegal content.

During the court proceedings, Judge Keenan Johnson observed that Robinson appeared to suffer from a sex addiction, which he believed was linked to a broader addiction to adult pornography. The judge noted that Robinson’s accidental entry into a site containing child abuse material was a pivotal moment, suggesting that his underlying issues may have contributed to his actions.

Further complicating the case was a probation report indicating that Robinson was sexually aroused by the images he viewed. However, the report also clarified that he did not have any interest in the fact that the actions depicted involved children, which was considered a mitigating factor.

It was also revealed that Robinson had engaged in exchanging or bartering images with others who accessed similar illegal content. This activity was viewed as an aggravating factor, although the court acknowledged that Robinson did not financially profit from the images, as he did not pay for them. Judge Johnson emphasized that such online activity contributes to the broader problem of child exploitation, stating that the proliferation of child pornography on the internet is a serious societal curse. He underscored that individuals like Robinson act as enablers for those who produce and distribute such material, and reducing demand could help diminish the industry.

In sentencing, Judge Johnson imposed a two-year jail term, which was suspended for five years, contingent upon Robinson meeting several conditions. These included entering into a €500 peace bond to maintain good behavior for five years, submitting to probation supervision for two years, and continuing psychiatric treatment. Additionally, Robinson was ordered not to have unsupervised access to any internet-enabled devices, including smartphones, for the duration of the suspended sentence. The court directed him to replace his smartphone with a basic device that only allows calls and texts.

Furthermore, Robinson was mandated to pay €12,000 to the children’s charity Barnardos, divided into four annual installments of €3,000 each. These measures aimed to address both his rehabilitation and the broader societal impact of his actions, emphasizing the importance of accountability and the need to protect vulnerable children from online exploitation.