Court told ‘boredom at work’ led retired man to child porn

A retired man told gardaí that boredom at work and curiosity about the internet led him to produce and distribute hundreds of graphic images and videos of child abuse.

Frederick Hunt (74) was caught after an FBI investigation linked an email address involved in the trading of “child pornography” to his home in Ballinteer, Co Dublin.

In January 2012, gardaí went to his home and seized a number of mobile phones and computer devices.

They also linked Hunt to illegal activity carried out on his work computer at his former place of work in the Irish Times building in Dublin city.

Using a number of email addresses, Hunt received and sent hundreds of images of young children being sexually abused and raped, Detective Garda Suzanne Carlos told the court.

One email referred to a female toddler wearing a bondage mask and involved in a sexual act with another child.

Images of young girls in sexual poses and videos of the sexual abuse and bondage of pre-teen girls were linked to Hunt.

Gardaí identified 18 “essay type stories” describing the sexual abuse of children.

Some of these were written by Hunt, including one referring to abduction and rape of pre-teens, leading to charges of production of “child pornography”.

Hunt of Ballinteer Court, Ballinteer, Dublin, pleaded guilty to seven sample counts out of a total of 101 various charges under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.

He pleaded guilty to production, distribution and possession of the material on dates between December 2010 and January 2011.

In interview Hunt told gardaí he was bored at work with nothing to do and began browsing the internet, not looking for “child pornography” but said that’s where he ended up.

“I was curious about the internet.

“I never had any intention of harming children.

“I’m not a paedophile not in the sense of harming children,” he told gardaí.

Det Gda Carlos agreed with Michael Bowman SC, defending, that it was “very difficult to reconcile the individual” behind the emails with the man before the court.

She accepted Mr Bowman’s description of his client as “mild mannered, gentle and compassionate”.

Counsel handed in a number of testimonials from Hunt’s now adult children, including those he and his wife fostered over the last two decades.

Mr Bowman said these show his children’s deep affection for him and describe “a loving caring empathetic man who gave without reservation to them over their life times”.

He said they are aware of his crimes and were shocked.

He told the court there was no issue in relation to the safety of these children and they have gone to to “flourish” as adults.

A testimonial from Hunt’s wife detailed how she is up to 90 per cent bed ridden due to physical illness and that Hunt is her effective carer.

She said she is totally dependant on Hunt, who cooks for her and washes and tends to her other bodily needs.

Mr Bowman said that Hunt is now a pariah in his community.

He said because of the almost unique stigma attached to this type of offending, the punishment is served in the community before and long after sentenced is passed.

He said his client is being treated for cancer and he asked for time to address these health concerns.

Judge Karen O’Connor adjourned sentencing to April 28 next and ordered that a Probation Services assessment be carried out.