EANNA MCKENNA FROM WEXFORD SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS FOR CHILD ABUSE MATERIALS

In November 2016, a former music teacher and church organist from Wexford was handed a three-year prison sentence after admitting to possessing and distributing explicit images and videos depicting child abuse. Eanna McKenna, aged 39 and residing in College Green, Summerhill, Wexford town, pleaded guilty in July to charges related to the possession and dissemination of hundreds of sexually explicit materials involving minors.

McKenna was a well-known figure in the local community, having provided music lessons both privately and at several secondary schools across County Wexford. His reputation extended beyond teaching, as he also served as a choir master and church organist, with appearances on various television programs originating from the county. Despite his public profile, his involvement in this criminal activity was uncovered through a series of investigations that shocked the local community.

The case came to light when a man, who was in a relationship with McKenna, reported to Gardaí in June 2014 that he had observed McKenna downloading child abuse material. This statement prompted a police raid on McKenna’s residence two days later. During the search, authorities discovered a significant collection of illicit files stored on a hard drive and a laptop. The images and videos found depicted children aged between one and six years old being subjected to sexual abuse by adult men. The video files included footage of boys as young as one year old up to 15 years old, all involved in acts of sexual exploitation by adults.

Garda Janet Walsh provided details to the court, revealing that investigators also uncovered digital records of communications through messaging platforms such as Messenger and Skype. These records showed that McKenna had used aliases like “Ross” and “Wexford Choir” to communicate with others and transfer the abusive material. In one conversation, McKenna explicitly expressed a sexual interest in 12-year-old boys, further implicating him in the ongoing criminal activity.

During the proceedings, the court was informed that McKenna’s computer records included chat logs that confirmed his involvement in the distribution of child abuse content. The investigation also revealed that McKenna had been in contact with others involved in similar activities, raising concerns about the wider network of exploitation.

McKenna’s defense lawyer, Seán Guerin, explained that his client’s attention from Gardaí was triggered by a complaint from a former partner, with whom his relationship had ended. Guerin emphasized that there was no evidence of financial gain from the distribution of the illicit materials and noted that many of the images had not been accessed for years prior to McKenna’s arrest. The lawyer also presented a letter of apology from McKenna, in which he expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging that he had made poor decisions and was now facing the consequences.

Guerin highlighted that McKenna was actively attending counseling sessions and believed that early intervention could have prevented his current predicament. He described his client as ashamed and embarrassed, emphasizing that McKenna recognized the harm caused by viewing and sharing such images, which put children at risk. The lawyer pointed out that McKenna had pleaded guilty early in the process, which spared the court a lengthy trial, and that he had undergone extensive psychotherapy funded personally by himself. Guerin stated that McKenna had made significant progress in treatment over the past two years and posed a low risk of re-offending, asserting that he was capable of rehabilitation.

In delivering his sentence, Judge Barry Hickson expressed profound disgust at the content of the material involved, describing it as “truly horrific and despicable.” He stated that individuals involved in the creation and distribution of such material are among the most evil, and that McKenna had fallen into this category. Despite acknowledging the remorse and positive testimonials presented, the judge emphasized the gravity of the offense. He noted that the law required a custodial sentence and therefore sentenced McKenna to three years in prison on each of the two counts—possession and distribution—running concurrently. The judge also acknowledged the early plea and the efforts made by McKenna to seek help, but ultimately concluded that the severity of the crime warranted a custodial sentence without suspension, describing it as a “most grave offence.”

McKenna was found guilty of possessing 521 images and 159 video files of child abuse on his personal computer in June 2014, as well as knowingly distributing such material. His actions have left a lasting stain on his reputation and serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing fight against child exploitation and abuse.