February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The porn probe has been under way for a month by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation after “irregularities” were noticed with a computer, according to official spokesman Sup. John Farrelly.
The Bureau is already carrying out a major child porn investigation, codenamed “Operation Amethyst,” after 500 gardai carried out search-and-seize raids for illegal computer images last May involving more than 100 homes in every one of the 26 counties.
A statement issued by the Garda press office said the investigation centering on headquarters is “in line with similar current investigations” under the 1998 Child Trafficking and Pornography Act.
“A number of items have been seized by gardai for examination,” the statement said. “No arrests have been made and it has to be borne in mind, that like all other such matters, these are allegations until proven or otherwise.”
Farrelly said that depending on what was found, a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will decide whether charges should be brought.
He told RTE it was an “isolated incident” and was not attached to Operation Amethyst. Asked why a member of the force had not been suspended, Farrelly said he would not go into details about a particular individual.
“These are allegations and [in] any situations we have pertaining to any particular case like this, whether it be a member of An Garda Siochana or a member of the public, fair procedures take place,” he said.
“Allegations have to be substantiated. Of course, where irregularities have been noticed by ourselves, the investigation will take place.
“It is only at the end of the day, when that whole procedure has been gone through, that a determination as to whether charges will be preferred can be done.”
The public should be reassured that if irregularities are discovered — no matter who they involve — the matter will be dealt with and pursued to a conclusion.
In Operation Amethyst, computers and computer equipment were seized after details were believed to have been supplied by the FBI on credit card numbers used to purchase hard-core child pornographic images from an American website.
The homes raided included those of a solicitor, a barrister, a teacher, a health board official, a banker, a choir master and a business executive.
A judge’s home was also raided. The president of the Circuit Court later said he had directed that the judge “not be listed for judicial assignments” pending the outcome of the inquiry.
Farrelly said some files connected with Operation Amethyst had gone to the DPP. “I understand that people will go before the courts early in the New Year,” he said.