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Department of Justice official sent for trial accused of possessing child abuse images

He was accused of possessing two videos and eight images of child abuse material on February 1, 2022

Today at 19:00

A SENIOR Department of Justice official accused of possessing child abuse images and videos has been served with a book of evidence and sent forward for trial.

Niall Colgan, 38, of Muckross Park, Perrystown, Dublin 12, was ordered to appear at Dublin District Court today, having been excused from attending a previous procedural hearing.

He was accused of possessing two videos and eight images of child abuse material on February 1, 2022. The offence is contrary to Section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.

He is also charged with possessing cannabis at his home on the same date and has yet to indicate a plea.

At his latest hearing today Detective Garda Alan Young served the accused with the State’s book of evidence for the case against him.

Detective Garda Young, from the divisional protective service in Tallaght, had told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed trial indictment at a higher level.

Judge Paula Murphy acceded to the DPP’s request to grant a return for trial order, transferring the case to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which has broader sentencing powers.

She told Mr Colgan it would be listed for mention on November 9 and warned him to notify the prosecution if he intended to use an alibi in his defence.

Gardaí were ordered to hand over interview videos to the defence and the judge remanded Mr Colgan, who did not address the court, on bail.

The judge also told him to obey terms set down at his first hearing in August but not read aloud during today’s proceedings. Mr Colgan, accompanied to court by his solicitor, acknowledged that he understood.

The accused has served as a Department of Justice press officer and was a private secretary for a previous Minister for Justice.