By Cormac Looney
Monday September 07 2009
A SOUTH Dublin gangland figure may face child porn charges after officers discovered vile abuse images in a raid on his underworld lockup.
The man, in his 20s, was recently detained by gardai on suspicion of serious gang offences.
He was questioned in relation to those offences, but not over the child porn find, which officers are treating as a separate offence.
The Herald has learned the man is now facing a separate inquiry on suspicion of possessing child porn images, after officers discovered the material on a PC seized from his lock-up.
The man is from southwest Dublin and cannot be named for legal reasons.
He is regarded as a gangland 'fixer', who has worked for different south city gangs in the past, sourcing firearms and drugs, and laundering cash.
He was been a target of local gardai on the city's southside, and the Organised Crime Unit.
disappeared
Sources said the men went to ground after his underworld associates learned of the child porn seizure, which was made in a raid in the city less than two years ago.
One source said: "He disappeared off the face of the earth for a period.
"Initially, he told people that he was going on the run to avoid the guards but when word emerged of the child porn, he stayed away and didn't come back.
"The images were very graphic and there was a large number of them.
"It completely surprised the officers, who had expected to find financial details or emails and not this sort of stuff," the source added.
The man could now face jail if gardai decide to prosecute him for possession of child porn. He is already the subject of a separate investigation on foot of his alleged gangland activities.
clooney@herald.ie
- Cormac Looney
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