The Finance Minister gave a victim impact statement to court about the impact of threats levelled against him and his family.

The media regulator said it would be helpful to ban companies from making technologies that can create sexualised images of children available.

Fifty-five child victims of online sexual abuse have been identified and safeguarded by gardaí in the last 15 months.

The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau was part of a joint international operation, also including the FBI and Europol, which successfully targeted assets used by cybercriminals

Max Hollingsbee, 21, of Lurgan is to serve 31 months in prison and 31 months on licence.

The incidents of fraud and cybercrime have increased this year in the county