GAVIN MOORE FROM BALLYMENA ADMITS TO CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN DOWNTOWN COURT

In a serious development at Downpatrick Crown Court, Gavin John Moore, a 37-year-old man with ties to Ballymena, has confessed to downloading and possessing indecent images of children. The court proceedings revealed that Moore, originally from Comber but currently residing on Gortnageeragh Road in Ballymena, pleaded guilty to eight separate charges related to the creation and possession of such illicit material. These charges spanned various dates from October 16, 2009, through September 13 of the previous year, highlighting a prolonged period during which Moore engaged in these criminal activities.

Despite his admissions, Moore denied an additional 20 similar charges brought against him. Furthermore, two counts involving a staggering total of 21,972 images were not pursued in court, leaving some aspects of the case unresolved. The charges presented to Moore were summarized in their short form, with detailed descriptions of the images, many of which were graphic and disturbing in nature. These details were not read aloud during the proceedings, but the severity of the content was acknowledged.

During the hearing, Moore’s defense lawyer, Ian Turkington, argued that his client’s guilty pleas to the categories of using and possessing the images should suffice to resolve the case. However, the prosecution, represented by lawyer Sam Magee, indicated that they would need to consult with their authorities to determine whether Moore’s admissions were sufficient to meet the demands of justice in this case.

Moore, who now faces the legal process while on continuing bail, appeared in court under the watchful eye of Judge Gordon Kerr QC. The judge ordered Moore to return to court the following Tuesday to hear the Public Prosecution Service’s (PPS) stance on the case and to determine the next steps in the proceedings.

In a related case, another individual from Northern Ireland, Lawrence Henderson of Kilwilke Road, Lurgan, received a different outcome. Henderson, aged 32, was found to have more than 3,000 indecent images of children stored on his computer. During his court appearance at Craigavon Crown Court, Henderson pleaded guilty to 26 charges of making indecent photographs of children and one charge of possessing a total of 3,354 such images. As part of his sentence, he was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and received a three-year probation order.

The case against Henderson was initiated after he took his computer to a repair shop in Lurgan. The staff at the shop discovered the illicit images and contacted police authorities. When Henderson returned to retrieve his device, he was arrested. An examination of his computer revealed 208 images classified as Category One and four as Category Two. Additionally, a search of his home uncovered an external hard drive containing 3,347 Category One images and one Category Two image.

Henderson admitted to police that he had pornography on his computer, claiming that the girls depicted were over 18 years old. However, a prosecutor who reviewed the images stated that the girls appeared to be between 12 and 13 years old, indicating the material was clearly underage. Judge Patrick Lynch addressed Henderson directly, condemning his actions and stating that he had brought shame upon himself and his family, emphasizing the gravity of his offenses and the importance of accountability in such cases.