Source: BBC News

Stephen Buckley, aged 47, pleaded guilty and was convicted and fined €400 for possessing child pornographic material generated using artificial intelligence. The case was heard at the district court in Tralee, County Kerry, and he is believed to be the first person in the Republic of Ireland convicted for possession of AI-generated child pornographic material. The US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children alerted detectives in the Garda Online Exploitation Unit to suspicious activity on his phone, which led to a Garda search of his home in February 2024. Officers seized multiple phones and examinations revealed child pornographic images, including one image digitally manipulated using an AI app and three animation or cartoon-like videos depicting teenagers. Buckley pleaded guilty to possessing four AI-generated child pornographic images and admitted the manipulated image and the three videos as part of his plea. Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported that officers had interviewed him and confiscated the devices.

Defence solicitor Pat Mann told the court Buckley had no previous convictions, that the matter had a devastating effect on his client and that Buckley had attended dozens of counselling sessions; Mr Mann asked the court to handle the case without recording a criminal conviction. Judge David Waters described the offence as serious, said the fact the material was downloaded showed an element of deliberation and pre-meditation, and found the portrayal of the material's presence as "almost accidental" did not stand up. The judge recorded a conviction and imposed a €400 fine. The report uses the phrase "is believed to be" regarding this being the first conviction of its kind in the Republic of Ireland. Reporting details are attributed to the Garda, the US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and Irish broadcaster RTÉ where specified.