Judge cleared of child porn quits

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6144608.stm

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An Irish judge who was cleared of accessing child porn over the internet is to resign.

Brian Curtin tendered his letter of resignation to the Irish government halting an inquiry by politicians into allegations of "stated misbehaviour".

A government spokeswoman confirmed that Mr Curtin had offered to stand down.

He was acquitted in 2004 of possession of child pornography by direction of a judge after it emerged Irish police used an out of date search warrant.

Denied

Gardai raided the judge's home in Tralee, County Kerry, in May 2002 and seized his personal computer but the evidence gathered was deemed inadmissible.

He denied the charge.

The public outrage which followed what many saw as an accquital on a technicality prompted the parliamentary enquiry.

During the controversy surrounding his alleged behaviour, it is known that he spent some time in St John of God Hospital in Dublin being treated for alcohol-related problems.

The inquiry convened by the Irish parliament to investigate the allegations has now been halted.

That committee's investigation was to precede moves by Justice Minister Michael McDowell to have Mr Curtin removed from the bench.

He is to retire on a reduced judicial pension to be paid from 1 November.