Sentencing of man for child pornography put back until June

SENTENCING of a 76-year-old former resident of Clare Island for the possession and distribution of child pornography was put back today until June by a judge of the Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Rory MacCabe, sitting in Castlebar, was originally due to have passed sentence today on James Woods, Cappanagower, The Harbour, Clare Island.

Woods had hundreds of images and movie clips showing graphic images of child pornography on his laptop when his home was visited by gardai.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier court to the possession and distribution of child pornography.

Judge MacCabe, who viewed the images and film clips, said they were at the upper end of the spectrum as regards seriousness.

Today, following an application by Mr. Diarmuid Connolly, counsel for the defence, Judge MacCabe put sentencing back further until June 15 to allow tor the preparation of a psychiatric report and a further probation eeport.

Mr. Connolly told an earlier court that Mr. Woods has suffered a spectacular fall from grace in his community and was now exiled not just from the island but from Co. Mayo.

The defendant is now living in northern Ireland, the earlier court heard.