A shamed policeman who resigned before he was fired could face prosecution over extreme pornography following an anti-corruption investigation.
Ryan Connolly, a former police officer admitted possessing an image that “portrayed in an explicit and realistic” manner an “obscene” act in which a person’s life was in danger, as well as pictures of sexual acts being performed on animals.
The police misconduct investigation which has already concluded revealed Connolly also snapped a picture of himself at a murder scene and sent racist and homophobic messages from his phone.
On Monday January 10, a court heard Connolly could now face criminal allegations as a result of the disciplinary inquiry.
The 37-year-old resigned from the police force ahead of the misconduct hearing in November, where it was ruled he would have been sacked had he still been a serving officer.
Connolly was barred from working for the police again, according to Liverpool Echo.
It has now been revealed he may face criminal charges in relation to some of the material that led to the Merseyside Police disciplinary panel’s verdict.
The details emerged as he appeared in Manchester Crown Court over three counts of possessing “extreme pornographic” images.
The offences date back to January and July of 2017.
Connolly, of Court Hey Road in Huyton, appeared in a grey suit and spoke only to confirm his identity.
Henry Riding, prosecuting, said: “As recently as Friday the police have submitted a report but not a file for the Crown Prosecution Service asking them to consider the possibility of criminal proceedings arising out of the material that formed the basis of that gross misconduct hearing.”
Judge Anthony Cross, QC, adjourned the case until January 27.
In November a misconduct panel ruled that, had Connolly not already resigned, he would have been dismissed from Merseyside Police. He was barred from working for the police in the future.
That followed an internal investigation that revealed a series of disciplinary breaches.
Connolly had taken a picture of himself lying in a field while he was supposed to be working on a cordon at the scene of a fatal attack on Danny Gee-Jamieson in July 2018.
The 16-year-old was stabbed at The Nook in Gateacre, leading to the launch of a murder investigation.
A teenage boy was later locked up for manslaughter.
Mr Gee-Jamieson’s mum, Mandy Jamieson, has since slammed Connolly for his actions.
She told the ECHO last month: “I just feel like Connolly has made a mockery of my son’s death. Like it was all a big joke.”
Connolly also photographed people detained under the Mental Health Act and while they were being observed in hospital and his personal mobile phone was found to contain depraved images including content that was racist and homophobic.
He was also found to have associated with a “known criminal” and had failed to disclose the relationship to bosses.
Following the hearing, Deputy Chief Constable Ian Critchley branded Connolly’s actions as an “insult to the uniform” and said: “An investigation by our Anti-Corruption Unit uncovered the fact that Connolly had been using his own phone to take photographs of vulnerable people whilst on duty and that the phone also contained appalling homophobic, racist and offensive images.
“It also revealed that Connolly was an associate of a known criminal and had not declared this association.
“His actions are an insult to the uniform and the police service, which consistently strives to protect our communities and provide a professional and inclusive service to the people of Merseyside.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
