Former nightclub doorman avoids jail term after he was found with a video depicting child abuse sent in a WhatsApp group

By Eoin Ryan

A former nightclub doorman found in possession of a video depicting child abuse which was sent to him in a WhatsApp group chat has been given a one year fully suspended sentence.

Stephen Hearns (39) of Kilnamanagh, Tallaght, Dublin was one of a number of participants in a Whatsapp chat group in 2015, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard yesterday.

Garda Stephen Kinneavy told the court that Hearns received a video depicting a girl aged around 13 years old fully naked and engaging in explicit sexual behaviour.

He said in a conversation that followed there was reference to the defendant “liking the video”.

He said the defendant wrote “first vid is great, got any more”.

The court heard that the video came to light after a global investigation into the distribution of child abuse images led to a search of a property in Swords, Co Dublin on November 14, 2015.

Another man was the primary target of this operation by gardaí and a number of mobile phones and computers were seized.

This led to the conviction in 2018 of this primary suspect, Maddy Grant BL told the court.

A phone number was saved as “Stevo” on the phone of the primary suspect was registered to Hearns and a search warrant was obtained for his home in Tallaght.

Gerardine Small SC, defending, described the video as “revolting” but said it was sent to her client by the other man and that this was the only image in her client’s possession.

She said Hearns was a doorman in Harcourt Street, for several different venues and has since lost his security licence as a result of this conviction.

Hearns admitted to gardai that he had gotten involved in talking on this group but said that he had never done anything physical with children, Ms Small said.

She said her client was ashamed of his behaviour and was aware this is not a victim less crime.

Judge Martin Nolan suspended a prison sentence of one year, saying that he believed Hearns is unlikely to reoffend.

He noted that the man is now a registered sex offender and that he must face a degree of public shame for his offending.