A 28-year-old man wanted in the United States on charges of distributing and advertising child pornography has been refused bail by the High Court. Eric Marques with an address at Mountjoy Square in Dublin has been deemed a flight risk and somebody who is likely to interfere with evidence.

Objecting to bail, an FBI agent told the court that the criminal charges relate to around 1 million child pornography images, including violent depictions of the rape and torture of children.

A provisional warrant for Mr. Marques's extradition on 4 child pornography charges was issued by a federal court in Maryland.

The High Court heard the 28-year-old who holds American and Irish passports was arrested during a raid on his Dublin apartment last Monday and may be facing criminal charges in Ireland.

He has no previous convictions but gardai believe the seriousness of the charges and the evidence against him would provide an incentive for Mr Marques to evade extradition.

The court heard the US charges outlined in the provisional warrant are so serious that he could, on conviction, be incarcerated for life possibly without parole.

€246,000 transferred to Romania

Mr. Justice Paul Gilligan accepted Mr. Marques is a flight risk with connections in Romania and that he is likely to interfere with evidence if released from custody.

Questioned before the court Marques agreed he has been successful in business and that he had transferred €246,000 to Romania. He gave evidence that he sent the money to his former girlfriend to build a house for them to live in.

He said he now believes she was lying to him and that she has had another boyfriend in Romania all along.

He admitted carrying out searches on Google about obtaining visas in Russia but said this was out of curiosity about US whistleblower Edward Snowden who he had read was stuck in an airport.