County Derry man pleads guilty to 18 child image offences

A forty-three years old man whose address was given as Carsonville Drive in Maghera, today pleaded guilty at Derry Crown Court to fifteen charges of making indecent images of children and guilty to three charges of possessing indecent images of children.

Mark Hynes committed the offences on dates between May 2015 and October 2021.

Defence solicitor Paul Farrell told Judge Roseanne McCormick K.C. that Hynes was no longer living at the address on the charge sheet.

"Following his preliminary enquiry hearing on October 8 elements in the community attended his address. As a result of that he moved out and has been residing in temporary accommodations. He reported that matter to the police  but no police action was taken. Now that he  has pleaded guilty he will have to go through the registration process and an address is necessary for that", he said.

A prosecution barrister told the court that because Hynes no longer lived at his home address he was in breach of his court bail conditions.

"There is a live breach of bail file on the police system. He no longer resides at any address. The police simply don't know where he lives. His partner lives at the address on the charge sheet and she has provided a statement that he is no longer living there", she said.

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Mr. Farrell said Hynes was currently living "with continuity" in a bed and breakfast accommodation.

Judge McCormick said because Hynes "is strictly speaking in breach of his bail in terms of an agreed address", she was remanding him in custody "until a clear plan is put forward in terms of an agreed bail address".

Judge McCormick then ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence report for December 6 and said she would sentence Hynes next January 13.