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A DUBLIN MAN sentenced earlier this year for possession of child pornography and coercing young girls to send him sexually graphic images has been ordered not to take part in a computer programming course.
Matthew Horan (26) was sentenced last January to nine-and-a-half years with the final two years suspended. Judge Martin Nolan had ordered a probation report on that date into what interventions and services the prison service could provide to reform Horan.
Today Lorcan Staines BL, prosecuting, told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that the probation report confirmed that the “Better Lives” program would be available to Horan.
He said that the report also asked the court to make an order that a certain type of program not be entered into by Horan.
Judge Nolan ordered that Horan not be allowed to enter into a computer programming course as outlined in the probation report.
He also ordered that Horan enter a bond to be of good behaviour for two years from the date of his release, undergo two years post release supervision and avail of all services available to him.
During the sentence hearing last January, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Horan used Skype, Snapchat, Instagram and Kik, an anonymous instant messaging application, to send and receive child porn images from six identified child users in Ireland and nine unknown users around the world.
A forensic examination of Horan’s computer uncovered recorded Skype calls between him and two nine year-old-girls, both individually and together.
The recordings included footage of these girls engaging in graphic sexual acts.
Horan also took part in sexually explicit text conversations with the girls, during which there would be an exchange of photos.
Horan would use Kik to share child porn images and videos with unidentified users from around the world, most of whom claimed to be young teenagers.
He threatened to share an 11-year-old girl’s nude images to her social media if she didn’t send him more graphic photos.
In the text exchange between them, this child repeatedly told Horan that she would kill herself. He then continued to coerce her to send more images, the court heard.
Pleaded guilty
Horan, of St John’s Crescent, Clondalkin, Dublin pleaded guilty to a count each of sexually exploiting two girls within the State on dates between 1 April and 23 November, 2014.
He pleaded guilty to two more counts of sexually exploiting a child and one count of distributing child porn on dates in 2015. He further pleaded guilty to possessing child porn at his address on 11 July, 2015.
He pleaded guilty to three further counts of sexually exploiting female children through Snapchat and Instagram in the State on dates between 21 May, 2015 and 7 July, 2016.
He also pleaded guilty to possessing child porn on a Sony mobile phone at his home on 7 July, 2016. He has no previous convictions.
In sentencing Horan last January Judge Nolan said Horan had a very unhealthy, insidious and debased sexual interest in children. He said the crimes were all committed for Horan’s indulgence and pleasure and Horan had exploited children in a most horrible way.
“He knew what he was doing was wrong. He understood the damage and yet he didn’t stop what he was doing,” he said.
Judge Nolan had backdated the sentence to June last year, when Horan went into custody. He had ordered a report from The Probation Service in relation to interventions available to Horan.
“If there are such interventions, he has to partake of those meaningfully. It is important for society and him that he is given certain interventions that will change him,” he said.
Is Tubridy going to interview Lydon? I’d watch the Late Late just to see that.
I predict Ukraine will win again : )
What an absolute waste of money.
It is hard to know or judge the atmosphere that will exist when the votes are counted. Each song has it’s own good features but I do not think any will be a Eurovision winner. Something young and upbeat might be what is needed, but you also have to consider the viewing and voting public, and I dislike the current vote counting format anyway. Good luck to all anyway and best wishes to whoever gets to go to Liverpool.
After listening to these… relieved to know we won’t have to host it in ’23…all so bad…. with all the musical talent we have in Ireland… hard to believe that we can’t come up with anything half decent
Send back in Dustin the Turkey for the craic
Jaysus we haven’t a hope. Wild Youth and Leila Jane the best of a bad bunch. Adgy if they want to go for that complete Europop sound that somehow wins these days. We’ve a better chance of winning the soccer world cup.
Although they’re not Eurovision type songs, the two by Connolly and Leila Jane are my favourites in that order. Both should have bright futures in the industry, whatever happens.
We’ll be lucky to qualify with any of those. Poor, poor again. Who actually decides the six? Old fogies who haven’t a clue by the looks of it. Unfortunately, you need to have something that’s never been done before that makes people sit up and take notice, something completely woke or something that pulls at the heart strings to get anywhere in this competition. I was all for Mr. Lydon before I heard the song. 3 of the six might have an outside chance but there’s nothing new in there. Remember, the last time we qualified it was 2 guys having a snog on stage, that’s what got us through, not the song. Have we not learned anything?
Think We are one is the best there. It covers everything needed for Eurovison in my opinion. But sure they might do a Fr Ted here and go for the god awfull Too Good for your love song.
Surely this is not the best Ireland has to offer. Whatever happens to singers who know how to project their voices and sing intelligible lyrics.
Leila Jane and Connolly 2 descent songs.
@John Kenny: oh they’ll descend alright…
@UK Hurling Bloke: decent!
Getting old !
CONNOLLY would be my pics if she can sing it live. Wild Youth surely big favourites given big fan base
@Gareth Miskelly: Connolly song sounds very like Lana Del Rey to me, but I like it.
Leila Jane the best of a so-so bunch. Adgys song is catchy but wouldn’t stand out among the 25+ songs in a semi.
Need to think outside the box and go completely leftfield but not Dustin proportions!
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Sam Ryder set the bar extremely high last year. None of these entries are melodic enough and there’s too much use of repetition and unimaginative harmonies.
Going by people’s opinions in the comments of what songs should get through, I can see exactly why we don’t even qualify most years
It’s not about the song it’s about the image and how it’s perceived publicly
Wild Youth I think best song
Hawaii , just a fantastic song
I’m voting for Hawaii! It’s so lovely and caring m! Who knew the awkward b has such deep felt feelings! Well I did actually. Do it for Ireland John!
I’m voting for Hawaii! It’s so lovely and caring m! Who knew the awkward bollox has such deep felt feelings! Well I did actually. Do it for Ireland John!
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