Gardaí carried out searches of two properties in rural West Mayo as part of an operation that formed part of an intelligence-led investigation into criminal activity on the Darkweb.

The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau was part of a joint international operation, also including the FBI and Europol, which successfully targeted assets used by cybercriminals

Maurice Snowdon, (78), Ogonnelloe, Scarriff, Co Clare, showed little or no empathy for the “many victims” in the child sex abuse material that “he sought for his personal enjoyment”, sentencing Judge Colin Daly said.