MICHAEL LANGAN FROM CONG, GALWAY, SENTENCED IN 2011 FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In February 2011, a 23-year-old man named Michael Langan from Houndwood, Cross, Cong, County Mayo, received a suspended two-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to possessing and taking explicit images of children. Langan, identified as a sex addict, was found to have downloaded graphic child pornography from the internet over a three-year period and had progressed to photographing children himself.

Langan admitted to the court that he possessed computer images depicting young children engaged in explicit sexual acts at his home near Cong on May 19, 2009. He also admitted to possessing similar images at his rental property in Rahylin Glebe, Ballybane, between October 22, 2007, and May 18, 2009. These actions violated Section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998.

Gardai uncovered Langan’s activities by chance during a raid. At the time, Langan was a student at GMIT in 2009, holding a BA degree and studying for additional qualifications in Business and Information Systems, Micro Economics, and Languages. Sergeant Paudie O’Shea told the court that authorities found 76 images, 14 child porn movies, and 939 corrupted files on his computer. Langan also admitted to browsing the internet for child pornographic content.

Further investigation at his family home in Cong revealed an additional 58 encrypted files of child porn on the family computer. Prosecuting barrister Conor Fahy stated that Langan had advanced to taking photographs of children using his phone camera. Sgt. O’Shea expressed concern about Langan’s future behavior, saying, “I think he is so addicted to it, he is sorry he got caught. I just don’t know.”

Defense lawyer Geri Silke highlighted that Langan had been abused as a child and had contemplated suicide in 2006. She explained that he was remorseful and was actively participating in sex and psychological therapy, which was to continue.

Judge Raymond Groarke sentenced Langan to two years in prison for each charge, to run concurrently. However, he suspended the entire sentence for three years on the condition that Langan remain under the supervision of the probation service and continue his counseling and therapy for his addiction.