MICHAEL GORDON AND PHILIP BURNS SHOCK BELFAST AND LISBURN WITH CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through Northern Ireland, two men, Michael Gordon from Belfast and Philip Burns from Lisburn, have been found in possession of an alarming number of child sexual abuse images on their personal computers. The investigation, carried out by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in collaboration with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), uncovered a disturbing cache of illegal material during their respective arrests in February 2016.

Michael Gordon, aged 64 and residing in Belfast, was taken into custody as part of a broader operation targeting online child exploitation. Similarly, Philip Burns, 27 years old and living in Lisburn, was also detained. The authorities confirmed that the two men did not appear to have any known connection to each other, despite the similarity of their offenses.

Forensic analysis of Burns’s computers revealed a staggering collection of nearly 10,000 images depicting child abuse and acts of bestiality. These findings led to his conviction on multiple counts, including 14 charges of creating indecent images of children and four counts of possessing extreme pornography. The case was heard at Craigavon Crown Court, where Burns was sentenced in March to 15 months in prison. Additionally, he was issued a ten-year sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) and was prohibited from seeking employment involving contact with children.

Meanwhile, Gordon’s case was processed at Belfast Crown Court. He received a sentence of 12 months imprisonment, which was suspended for three years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed another offense within that period. Gordon was also subjected to a ten-year SOPO. During his arrest, Gordon admitted to NCA officers that he had encountered child abuse images online but insisted that his exposure was accidental, claiming he was searching for legal pornography. He stated, “It’s not what I go looking for,” attempting to downplay the severity of his actions.

However, forensic examinations of Gordon’s computers painted a different picture. Authorities discovered nearly 11,000 images of child abuse, many classified in the most serious categories, along with explicit images of bestiality. These findings led to his conviction on 21 April at Belfast Crown Court, where he faced 14 counts of making indecent images of children, five counts of possessing prohibited images of children, and five counts of possessing extreme pornography. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and the serious consequences faced by those involved in such heinous activities.