FERGAL KIRBY CHARGED WITH CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN CHESTER AND PLYMOUTH

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Chester and Plymouth, Fergal Kirby, a 41-year-old man, was found to be in possession of thousands of indecent images of children on his personal computer. The investigation revealed that Kirby had engaged in highly inappropriate online activities, including posing as a young girl of just 10 years old in internet chat rooms, where he interacted with other men.

According to the court proceedings, prosecutor David Gittins explained that Kirby actively encouraged these men to perform lewd acts for him via their web-cams, further highlighting the severity of his misconduct. The case came to light after authorities traced an account Kirby had created on a now-defunct website based in California. This account was used to upload a video containing images of children, which prompted police to monitor the site closely.

On December 10, 2010, law enforcement officers executed a raid on Kirby’s residence in Plymouth. During the search, they seized his computer equipment, which was found to contain an alarming collection of over 5,000 indecent images, both live and cached. These images were categorized into various levels of severity: 3,139 at level one, 308 at level two, 675 at level three, 1,177 at level four, and 81 at level five, with the latter being the most serious. Additionally, police discovered 458 prohibited images of children and 37 pieces of extreme pornography, underscoring the disturbing nature of his collection.

Kirby faced multiple charges, including one count of making an indecent image of a child, one count of distribution, nine counts of possession, one count of possessing prohibited images, and one count of possessing extreme pornographic material. During police interviews, he admitted that his interest in children had begun approximately four years prior and had developed into a sexual obsession. His internet search history revealed the term ‘pre-teen hardcore,’ and he expressed a sexual interest in girls aged between eight and thirteen.

Representing Kirby in court, barrister Richard Thomas noted that it was “fairly rare” for an offender to admit to such extensive involvement, and emphasized that Kirby had made efforts to understand his behavior and seek help. Thomas also highlighted the personal toll the case had taken on Kirby, stating that he had lost his job, had not seen his wife since his arrest, and had relocated to Chester. The lawyer further explained that the repercussions extended beyond Kirby himself, affecting other members of his family.

Judge Francis Gilbert QC acknowledged Kirby’s guilty pleas and the cooperation he had shown, but emphasized the gravity of the crimes. “The nature and quantity of these images mark these out as very serious offences,” the judge remarked. As a result, Kirby was sentenced to 12 months in prison. He was also ordered to remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of ten years and was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, reflecting the ongoing concern for public safety and the need for strict supervision.