A 41-year-old Clare man has been returned for trial, concerning the alleged illegal possession of 7,606 images and 139 video files of child pornography.
At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Judge Patrick Durcan made the order for the return for trial of the Clare man to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Court.
In the case, the man is charged with, on September 4, 2013, knowingly distributing child pornography for the purpose of distribution, publication and exportation, contrary to Section 5 (1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998.
The man is also accused of knowingly having in his possession the 7,606 child porn images and 139 video files at a Clare address on the same date, contrary to Section 6 (1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998.
In the circuit court, the accused, if convicted, faces a prison term up to five years on the possession charge and up to 14 years on the distribution charge.
Judge Durcan previously granted legal aid for the accused to be represented by solicitor Tom Kiely and extended time for the serving of the Book of Evidence.
The Book of Evidence was served on Wednesday and Judge Durcan told the accused that, if an alibi forms part of his defence, he should notify the State within 14 days.
Judge Duncan imposed reporting restrictions on the name and address of the accused and the accused remains on bail.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.