Cork man denies communicating with a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation
The court was told that a book of evidence would be necessary as a guilty plea was not being entered. File picture: David Creedon / Anzenberger
The DPP decided on Thursday that the case against a man accused of communicating with a child for the purpose of sexual exploitation should be dealt with at district court level only if there is a plea of guilty.
Defence solicitor Killian McCarthy said that a book of evidence would be necessary as a guilty plea was not being entered by 52-year-old Gary Noonan of Fr Dominic Road, Ballyphehane, Cork.
When Mr McCarthy said that a book of evidence would be necessary, Sergeant Gearóid Davis applied for an adjournment and Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case until May 7 for preparation and service of a book of evidence.
Detective Garda Eimear Brennan brought two charges against the accused man. One count stated that between November 28, 2021, and December 21, 2021, at his home address, he did by means of information and communication technology – namely an app known as Kik – communicated with another person for the purpose of facilitating sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 17.
The second count refers to one single image of child sexual abuse stored in an electronic device. No allegations were outlined in relation to what gave rise to the charges being brought against him.
