‘SICKO’ REMANDED Irishman accused of being ‘world’s largest child porn facilitator’ appears in US court following extradition

AN Irishman who is accused of being the world’s largest child porn facilitator has appeared in court in the US following his extradition

Eric Eoin Marques, 33, appeared at the US District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland last night.

Marques, who was handed over to FBI agents at Dublin Airport last Saturday, is charged with conspiracy to advertise child pornography, conspiracy to distribute child pornography, aiding and abetting the advertising of child pornography and aiding and abetting the distribution of child pornography.

He appeared before US magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan and was remanded in custody until tomorrow when he will enter a plea to the four charges against him.

During the short hearing, prosecuting attorney Robert K. Hur thanked Irish authorities for extraditing Marqyes.

He told the court: “Criminals cannot hide on the dark web or in foreign countries. We will find them and bring them to justice.

“We are grateful to Irish authorities for their assistance to bring Eric Marques to the United States to face these charges.”

‘GRAVE DANGER TO CHILDREN’

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski told the court: “Child exploitation sites on the dark web present a grave danger to children and unprecedented challenges to the world’s law enforcement agencies.

“The complaint unsealed today demonstrates the Department’s commitment to pursuing those accused of serious child pornography offenses wherever they may hide on the web and in the world, and to seeking justice for the countless children that are victimized by those who facilitate this horrendous conduct.”

Assistant Director Robert Johnson of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division told the court: “Today’s extradition of Eric Marques demonstrates that no matter where you are in the world, the FBI and it’s international law enforcement partners will be diligent in their efforts to hold you accountable for your criminal activity.”

Marques was first brought into custody in August 2013 after being arrested by gardai outside his home at Mountjoy Square.

Data downloaded from the RAM of his computer is alleged to have found Marques had recently visited sites hosting child pornography on the Freedom Hosting server.

According to Lisa Marie Freitas, a US special assistant attorney, one site was accessed 1,534 times.

It contained categories such as “Jailbait, pre-teen, todlers (sic), girls and boys”. Freitas said each category contained numerous videos of child sexual abuse.

The FBI pulled more than one million images from one site and 107 matched files on Marques’s RAM. One image was of an infant girl being abused.

At his first Irish High Court appearance, a Federal agent described Marques as “the largest facilitator of child porn on the planet”.

Last Wednesday the Supreme Court cleared the way for Marques’ extradition after they dismissed his appeal against a High Court decision that he be surrendered to the US authorities.

This decision brought an end to a lengthy court battle by Marques aimed at preventing his extradition.

If convicted in the US he faces decades in federal prison with some of the charges carrying sentences of up to 30 years.