The State is waiting for a formal request from the US for the extradition of an Irish man described as ‘the largest facilitator of child porn on the planet’.

Eric Eoin Marques (28) of Mountjoy Square in Dublin has been remanded in custody for a week following his second High Court appearance.

He is wanted in the US on four charges, including distributing and advertising child pornography.

An FBI agent gave evidence at his first court appearance last Friday that the charges relate to around one million child pornography images, including violent depictions of the rape and torture of children.

Marques was arrested at his Dublin apartment this day last week on foot of a provisional warrant issued by a federal court in Maryland.

He applied for bail but it was refused on grounds that he is a flight risk and that he may interfere with evidence.

Today he was remanded in custody for a further week after Ronan Kennedy BL for the state said it was anticipated that the US authorities will make a formal request for his extradition and that the Minister will certify that request.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott was told that if a formal request is not made within 18 days of his arrest on August 1 then Eric Marques is entitled to be released.

The judge noted ‘time is running’ as he further remanded the Marques in custody.

Marques, dressed in jeans, trainers, and an Adidas top, was flanked by gardaí and remained standing during his brief court appearance.

Focus on child abuse

In a seperate case, The FBI announced the arrest in Nicaragua recently of a man named Eric Toth on child porn possession charges - Mr. Toth had been on the agency's Ten Most Wanted list. With this latest extradition request, there's further proof that the US intelligence agency is willing to travel the world to apprehend those involved in the production of child abuse images.