No plea yet for Hobart man charged over child abuse material under Operation Arkstone sting

A Hobart man who was arrested under an Australia-wide child abuse material sting has briefly faced the Supreme Court, charged with dozens of offences. LATEST >

Supreme Court of Tasmania, Salamanca Place, Hobart, Tasmania. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Richard Jupe

A Hobart man arrested under a massive Australia-wide online child abuse material investigation – Operation Arkstone – has briefly faced the Supreme Court of Tasmania.

Christopher Patrick Farrell, 31, has not yet entered pleas to dozens of child abuse material charges.

Now in custody, Mr Farrell faced Justice Gregory Geason via video link on Wednesday and asked for his case to adjourn.

The Hobart resident, one of two Tasmanians charged under the large-scale Australian Federal Police-led investigation, has been charged with 46 counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material.

He also faces a further 19 charges related to accessing, causing the transmission, soliciting and possessing child abuse material.

Hobart man Christopher Patrick Farrell has been charged with child abuse material offences under the massive, Australia-wide, Operation Arkstone.

Dozens of Australian men were charged with viewing, sending or receiving child abuse material under Operation Arkstone, with some also being charged with sexual abuse and assault.

Australian Federal Police alleged its large-scale sting revealed a “predatory network” of alleged perpetrators who would take videos and photographs of themselves abusing children, then swap the content on social media platforms.

Justice Geason remanded Mr Farrell in custody, to return to court in May.

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