'Ripped apart': victim tells court that trial was as bad as abuse

A 52-year-old man from Longford has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment following his conviction on 52 counts of sexual assault at the Central Criminal Court. The offences occurred between 2004 and 2006, when the victim was aged between 10 and 12 years old. The man, who was known to the victim's family and regularly babysat her, engaged in a pattern of sexual assaults that included inappropriate touching and exposure to pornographic material. During sentencing, Mr Justice David Keane identified aggravating factors including the breach of trust inherent in the babysitting relationship, the vulnerable age of the victim, and the fact that the abuse occurred within her home. The victim provided an impact statement describing the profound and lasting effects of the offences, stating that the trial process itself had been deeply traumatic. The judge noted the man has not accepted the jury's verdict and has demonstrated no remorse. A period of two-year post-release supervision has been imposed, with no portion of the sentence suspended.