ACA reporter 'already on last strike' before child porn charges

A former colleague of child porn accused A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack revealed he was put on a "one-strike-and-you’re out" notice following a string of workplace incidents.

McCormack, one of Channel Nine's most senior reporters, has been charged by NSW Police over sexually explicit conversations with another man online about child pornography.

The 25-year veteran of the network is accused of sending child pornography and engaging in explicit conversations about children.

It has now been claimed the reporter reportedly made a series of anti-Israel outbursts attacking then Nine colleague Caroline Marcus, who wrote weekly columns for Queensland’s Sunday Mail, often about her Jewish heritage, News Corp reported.

McCormack, 42, reportedly also plastered pictures of dead Palestinian children at his desk to provoke Ms Marcus, who worked beside him.

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The workplace incidents were reported to Nine's company HR department, who dealt with the matter in September 2014, and head of news Darren Wick issued the senior reporter with a formal warning, according to News Corp.

Ms Marcus, who now works at Sky News, confirmed the incident to the newspaper, but declined to comment further. It was reported Ms Marcus told a Sky News colleague McCormack “was on a one-strike-and-you’re out arrangement” at Nine.

Nine's head of publicity, Victoria Buchan said: “It would be inappropriate for us to comment on HR matters that are handled in confidence.”

McCormack was suspended by Nine immediately after he was charged on Thursday, following investigations by NSW Sex Crimes Child Exploitation Unit.

Strict bail conditions ordered him to stay away from schools, playgrounds, and any location frequented by children, including video arcades, sporting venues. This will likely include his volunteer involvement with the North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club.