A well-known music teacher from College Green, Summerhilll, Wexford town has been jailed for the possession and distribution of images and videos of child abuse.
According to
RTÉ, Eanna McKenna was sentenced yesterday at Wexford Circuit Court.
The images were sexual explicit and featured boys from as young as one to 15 years of age.
McKenna pleaded guilty to having 521 images and 159 video files which were discovered on his personal home computer in 2014.
He also pleaded guilty to knowingly distributing the files.
A former boyfriend of McKenna’s alerted the Gardaí when he witnessed McKenna download the material in 2014.
The videos contained disturbing footage of children being abused by adults.
In private messages found on the computer, McKenna disclosed an interest in boys as young as 12.
During court proceedings, defending Barrister Seán Guerin said his client composed a letter in which he apologised for his actions.
He described McKenna as ashamed and embarrassed and told the court that his client was attending counselling believed is he had done so earlier the charges may have been prevented.
Guerin said McKenna has undergone extensive psychotherapy and that he had made great progress.
The judge however imposed a custodial sentence of three years.
The music teacher was known to give music lessons in schools and privately. He was also a choir master and a church organist who represented the area on multiple TV programmes.
