YOUNG MAN ARRESTED IN DUBLIN FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IMAGES
A young man travelling to a comic book convention in the United States was stopped by Homeland Security at Dublin Airport and found with child sex abuse animation images, a court has heard.Finley Bowd, aged 21, from Harbour View Close, Brixham, Devon, England, was arrested at Terminal 2 on Wednesday.
He appeared before Judge John Brennan at Dublin District Court on Thursday, when Detective Garda Rebecca Doyle stated he made 'no reply' when charged with two offences under section 6.1 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act.
The shop cashier, who was traveling to New York for a Comic Con event, was detained and had his phone seized.
He is accused of possessing anime images of child sexual abuse and having category-three child pornography anime images.
The judge noted the involvement of Homeland Security, the US federal agency.
The accused has not yet formally entered a plea and was remanded on €400 bail to appear again on November 6th for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Initially objecting to bail because the accused was a UK national and allegedly a flight risk, Det Garda Doyle agreed to bail terms following exchanges with defence barrister Paddy Flynn.
The detective also accepted that Mr Bowd was cooperative.
Contact has been made with a family member, and Gardaí established he has not come to police attention in the UK.
Mr Flynn stated his client's mother would support him, and he could be reached on her phone.
The barrister mentioned the case involves 'difficult charges' and secured legal aid for his client.