MARK HENRY FROM MAGHERAFELT DENIED VIEWING CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN LONDONDERRY COURT

In June 2013, a significant case unfolded at Londonderry Crown Court involving Mark Henry, a 32-year-old man from Piney Hill in Magherafelt, who faced serious charges related to the possession and creation of indecent images of children. During the proceedings, Judge Philip Babbington made a clear and firm statement, indicating his refusal to view the disturbing files in question. When a prosecution barrister suggested that the judge might want to examine a sample of the images before sentencing, Judge Babbington responded unequivocally, "I will not intervene if the categorisation is accepted. I do not wish to see these images."

Henry had admitted to 21 counts of making indecent images of children, as well as possessing an indecent image with the intent to distribute or show it. The offences were committed over a period spanning from August 2010 to July 2011. The case revealed that Henry had downloaded a total of 1,526 moving images from a file-sharing website onto his computer. Police investigations into his devices uncovered that approximately 58% of these images fell into the second highest category of severity, classified as category four.

Henry's background was also discussed during the hearing. It was noted that he is autistic and has cerebral palsy, conditions that contribute to his extreme social isolation. His only contact was reportedly with his mother, which may have influenced his online activities. Both the prosecution and defence agreed on the categorisation of the images, which played a role in the judge's decision to proceed without viewing the files himself.

Following the judge's declaration, a pre-sentence report was ordered to be prepared, with a scheduled sentencing date set for 20 August. Meanwhile, Henry was released on bail, with the conditions of his release remaining in effect as the legal process continued. The case highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding online child exploitation and the legal procedures involved in handling such sensitive and disturbing cases in Northern Ireland.