Mass card salesman jailed for child porn possession begins appeal

A 53-year-old mass-card salesman from Longford has begun an appeal against his conviction for possession of child pornography at the Court of Criminal Appeal. Thomas McNally was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in October 2011 following a Longford Circuit Criminal Court jury verdict on charges relating to possessing 676 images downloaded in February 2006. The appeal centres on whether the defence was entitled to challenge expert evidence presented by the prosecution regarding handwriting found on the images. The defence sought to call a competing expert witness but the trial judge refused permission. McNally was granted bail on compassionate grounds pending the appeal. The court indicated proceedings would continue at a later hearing.