A US judge told a Maryland courtroom yesterday the world is in a better place with Eric Eoin Marques behind bars.
The 36 year old, who was living in Mountjoy Square in Dublin before his extradition to the States, was handed a 27 year sentence for conspiring to advertise child abuse images online.
Mr Marques was described as 'truly despicable', 'in a league of his own' and 'the kingpin' of child abuse imagery.
The court heard the Dublin man created an 'online community of exploitation' in building a server which hosted 200 child exploitation websites.
Child protection expert Shane Dunphy says the images, which mainly involved prepubescent children, were monetised by Marques:
"This is something that is just done by amateurs, as they're involved in the abuse."
"Then this is passed on."
"You get people like Marques who creates a marketplace, or a platform where they can monetise this."
Marques Could Return To Ireland
Defense lawyers said Marques plans to return to Ireland after his time behind bars.
Chief Superintendent Declan Daly says he'll be monitored upon his return:
"He will be managed and monitored as a sex offender."
"As other sex offenders are monitored today in this jurisdiction."
"So be assured that's what'll happen when he returns to this jurisdiction in years to come."
The operation took down 200 websites and dozens of other offenders were captured.
