Courts / Dublin / Report
"I went from playing with dolls to planning my death": child abuse victim
Summary
A 68‑year‑old Dublin man pleaded guilty to sexually molesting his young niece and was convicted by a jury of two counts of raping that victim and of sexually assaulting her older sister. He was acquitted of two other rape counts. The court heard he began molesting the younger girl when she visited him in her First Communion dress and later raped her in a bedroom at her family home. He allegedly used alcohol and money to influence the parents, giving him opportunities to assault the children, and threatened them that they would be taken away if they reported the abuse. The older sister testified that the abuse changed her from "playing with dolls to planning her death," describing a cold, dark room and a sense of helplessness. The younger sister said the abuse stole her childhood. The defendant denied the rape charges but admitted molestation, describing it as harmless.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "I went from playing with dolls to planning my death": child abuse victim. Charges or matters: sexually assaulting one girl when she was aged between nine and 12 years old between 2005 and 2008. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Acquitted
When:
- June 30th Adjournment
- 2005 and 2008 Incident
- 2017-06-20 Publication
Why: She said because she was on suicide watch as a child she was unable to protect her sister from her uncle. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: sexually assaulting one girl when she was aged between nine and 12 years old between 2005 and 2008 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Acquitted
Outcome: Acquitted; Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan remanded him on continuing bail for sentence on June 30th next.; Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan remanded him on continuing bail for sentence on June 30th next.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
Sexual Offences Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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