Freedom Hosting Admin to be Extradited to the United States

Dublin man Eric Eoin Marques is set to face child pornography charges in the US after losing his extradition appeal in Ireland.

On Wednesday, the Irish Supreme Court unanimously dismissed Marques’ appeal against his extradition to the US where he faces charges for child pornography.

Marques has been in police custody in Ireland since August 2013 after his capture was formally requested by US authorities. A request for bail was denied as Marques was considered to be a flight risk and capable of tampering with evidence. (IrishCentral)

His arrest warrant deemed him “the largest facilitator of child porn on the planet.”

The FBI believes Marques owns and operates Freedom Hosting, an anonymous hosting site which is considered to be the world’s largest facilitator and distributor of child abuse images.

Marques has been charged by the FBI with conspiring to distribute and advertising child pornography, as well as aiding and abetting advertising of child pornography.

In 2018, Marques and his legal team mounted an appeal that argued the decision to not charge Marques in Ireland was “not based on the public interest and was taken because it would block the extradition,” reports The Times.

That appeal was unanimously dismissed on Wednesday.

With the failed attempt to remain in Ireland, Marques faces serious charges in the United States.

• conspiring to distribute child pornography;
• advertising child pornography;
• and aiding and abetting the advertising of child pornography.