CIARAN O’MEARA: BANNED BELFAST EX-COP WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN ATTIC ESCAPES JAIL
In a case that has shocked the community in Belfast, Ciaran O’Meara, a former police officer, has narrowly avoided imprisonment after being found in possession of hundreds of indecent images of children.The incident came to light when O’Meara’s then-fiancée discovered a laptop hidden in the attic of their shared home on Killowen Street, East Belfast, last March.
Upon investigation, police uncovered a disturbing collection of 376 images depicting young girls, which included 367 classified as Category One — the least serious but still indicative of illegal material — and an additional nine categorized as Category Two.
O’Meara, aged 39 and notably tall at nearly 7 feet, had served as a member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for five years before leaving the force over unrelated issues.
His professional reputation was described during the court proceedings as that of a once capable and competent officer who had experienced a significant fall from grace.
The court was informed that O’Meara’s address was listed as Killowen Street in East Belfast.
Due to the publicity surrounding his court appearances, he had been forced to relocate multiple times, reflecting the community’s concern and the media attention his case attracted.
The court heard that his former fiancée, who discovered the laptop, contacted authorities after finding the illicit images stored on the device.
Detectives who examined the laptop confirmed the presence of the 376 indecent images.
O’Meara admitted to police that he had hidden the device, claiming it contained only adult pornography.
He insisted that he had never knowingly downloaded images of children and believed the girls depicted were over 18 years old.
However, prosecutor Lauren Cheshire pointed out that the images did not depict prepubescent children but were clearly of girls under 18, raising concerns about O’Meara’s understanding of the material.
In addition to the child abuse images, the laptop contained a similar quantity of adult pornography, which O’Meara also claimed was the reason for storing the device.
His employment with the PSNI was terminated due to issues related to paperwork, and he has since faced social ostracism, with reports indicating that he has been shunned by most of his friends and even some family members, including his elderly father who accompanied him to court.
Judge David Smyth sentenced O’Meara to six months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for three years.
Furthermore, he was issued a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which restricts his access to the internet unless the device can record and display browsing history.
He is also prohibited from attempting to contact any female under the age of 16 and has been placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of seven years.
Earlier, in June 2013, O’Meara, then a towering figure at 7 feet tall, had admitted to possessing indecent images of children in Belfast.
This admission followed a violent incident where vigilantes attacked his former residence in the New Lodge area, a predominantly nationalist neighborhood.
The attack occurred just two days after he appeared in court to plead guilty to multiple charges related to child abuse images.
It was reported that O’Meara had been living in the New Lodge for over a year, in close proximity to a nursery school, a busy playground, and the residence of a convicted Real IRA bomber.
His previous home on Stratheden Street was vandalized by local residents who painted “pervert scum” on the walls, expressing their outrage and disgust.
A local resident expressed disbelief and anger, criticizing authorities for allowing him to reside among families and children despite his criminal charges.
Following his arrest, O’Meara moved from his initial residence in North Belfast to a rented property in the New Lodge.
His case continues to draw significant public attention, and he is scheduled for sentencing in Downpatrick on September 6, where further legal consequences are expected.
