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Gort man gets 3 year suspended sentence for possession of child pornography
Galway Bay fm newsroom – A 48 year old Gort man charged with the possession of child pornography has been given a three year suspended sentence with strict conditions attached.
Noel Murphy with an address at Sheehaun, Ballysheedy, Gort appeared for sentence before Galway Circuit Criminal Court.
In January last year, Noel Murphy pleaded guilty to the possession of 641 pornographic images of children at his home on March 25th 2010, contrary to Section 5 of the Child Trafficking and Pornogrpahy Act 1998.
Sentencing was adjourned on a number of occasions.
At Galway Circuit Criminal Court today, Garda John Keating told judge Raymond Groarke that the defendant has not come to garda attention since.
The accused defence Barrister told the court that Mr. Murphy has engaged with the probation services and attended all scheduled appointments.
He also advised that a treatment programme has been identified and that records are available to show he has had no internet access, as was directed by the court last December.
Judge Groarke said the material was serious enough, not of the highest end but in the middle range. He noted that diagnostic assessment and counselling would continue into the future.
He then imposed a three year suspended sentence based on a number of conditions.
These include that Murphy is placed under the supervision of probation services for three years.
He is also to reside at an address to be notified and agreed with the probation services and undertake the safer lives programme or any therapeutic programme deemed appropriate.
The judge also stated that he is not to own or have access to an internet accessible device.
He is also to maintain contact with community health services and not to come to the attention of the Gardai.
The death has occurred of the former Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Martin Drennan, six years after he announced his retirement on health grounds. He was aged 78.
The Galway Diocesan Office confirmed the death this (Saturday) afternoon of the Bishop and Apostolic Administrator Emeritus, who oversaw the Diocese for eleven years.
Born on January 2, 1944 in Piltown, County Kilkenny, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. His brother Michael is also a priest.
Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in both sacred theology and sacred scripture. He returned to Rome in 1980 to become spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College for the next five years.
He became a lecturer in sacred scripture at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he continued to teach until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 with responsibility for East Wicklow and South Dublin.
Following the retirement of Bishop James McLoughlin, Bishop Drennan was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora and he was installed on July 3, 2005 in Galway Cathedral.
Outgoing Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) is on course to retain her City Council seat – and top the poll in City East.
With 33% of the boxes tallied, Cllr O’Flaherty is polling strongly, particularly in Renmore.
Michael John Crowe is ahead of his running mate Alan Cheevers for the Fianna Fáil vote, according to the early figures, although that could change when Doughiska and Roscam boxes are opened.
The Green Party’s Claire Hillery is on about 7%, with Fine Gael on 10% and Sinn Fein on 5%.
The opening of boxes for the local elections began at 9am this morning in Leisureland when the tallymen (and women) kicked into gear.
As regards the Galway County Council elections, the smaller areas are being opened first which means that the four-seater Connemara North boxes will be first in the pecking order.
It will be followed by Gort-Kinvara (5 seats), Connemara South (5 seats), Athenry-Oranmore (7 seats), Ballinasloe (6 seats), Loughrea (5 seats) and finally Tuam (7 seats).
The boxes in these areas will be opened and tallied in that particular order before being transferred to the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Threadneedle Road where the counting will commence around mid-morning.
That is when the fun will really begin – although the tallies should give a good indication as to where most of the seats are destined.
As regards the city, the Galway City East boxes were opened first, followed by Galway City Central and finally Galway City West. These votes will be transferred to the Westside Centre by around 11am for counting.
There are 39 seats on Galway County Council to be filled with 18 on Galway City Council. The City Council count is expected to conclude on Saturday night but the County Council count – with seven electoral areas to be filled – could well go into Monday.
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