LORCAN FAHY FROM CLONDALKIN ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES AT LAURELS PUB

In a case that has drawn significant attention, Lorcan Fahy, a 31-year-old man from Clondalkin, was found guilty of possessing child abuse images and videos, but instead of facing imprisonment, he was sentenced to community service and other conditions aimed at rehabilitation.

The incident came to light when staff at Laurels Pub in Clondalkin discovered Fahy’s mobile phone left behind on September 17, 2009. Upon inspection, they found the device contained inappropriate images, which prompted them to contact the Gardaí. Gardaí responded swiftly, and after viewing the content, confirmed that the images depicted minors between the ages of eight and 16 engaged in sexualized poses and activities.

Fahy, who resides at Monastery Gate Lawn, admitted to possessing 25 images and one video of child pornography on his phone. He explained to Gardaí that his involvement with such material stemmed from browsing certain pornography websites, expressing remorse and stating, “I am sorry and don’t know what I was thinking.”

The following day, September 18, 2009, Fahy further pleaded guilty to possessing an additional 79 downloaded images of child pornography at his residence. These images depicted victims aged between 14 and 16 years old. The court was informed that these images fell into the lower categories of child pornography, primarily showing erotic posing and non-penetrative sexual activities.

Despite the serious nature of the charges, Fahy had no prior criminal record. The court heard that the images found were at the lower end of the spectrum in terms of severity. The judge, Patricia Ryan, acknowledged this context and indicated her intention to impose a sentence of 240 hours of community service along with a two-year suspended sentence. Additionally, Fahy was ordered to register as a sex offender and to keep the peace and be of good behavior for two years. He was also required to engage fully with probation services for 18 months and participate in therapeutic programs.

Judge Ryan emphasized that Fahy’s case was “in the lowest category” of such offenses, citing his lack of previous convictions and early guilty plea as mitigating factors. However, she also pointed out the seriousness of the charges and the volume of images involved as aggravating factors.

Garda Ciaran O’Neill provided details of the investigation, explaining that staff at Laurels Pub had reported finding Fahy’s phone containing inappropriate images. Gardaí confirmed the phone was registered to Fahy and obtained a search warrant for his home. When Gardaí arrived, Fahy opened the door and handed over bundles of images of naked females. He admitted to possessing images of young children on his phone and expressed remorse for his actions. During the search, Gardaí also found a small quantity of cannabis valued at €170.

Fahy explained that he noticed his phone was missing when he returned home from the pub. He acknowledged that he had obtained the images from a website and recognized that they involved minors. Gardaí seized his laptop computer as well. The investigation revealed that 104 images and one video breached legislation, with 25 images on Fahy’s phone—24 of which depicted erotic posing with no sexual activity, and one showing sexual activity between children or on their own. The additional 79 images found on his computer were also in the lower categories, with some in a category depicting non-penetrative sexual activity involving adults and children.

Defense counsel Mr. Luán O Braonáin SC highlighted Fahy’s lack of previous convictions and noted that the offenses might never have been discovered if not for the pub staff. He acknowledged that Fahy’s efforts to download such images were not highly sophisticated and that Fahy had made full admissions when confronted. The defense also presented a report from a clinical psychologist indicating Fahy was at the lowest level of potential re-offending and that he had engaged in therapy.

In conclusion, the court considered testimonials from friends and Fahy’s cooperation with authorities. The judge took into account his early guilty plea, engagement with therapy, and absence of prior convictions, ultimately opting for a lenient sentence aimed at rehabilitation rather than punishment.