Courts / Ireland / Report
"Dangerous" serial offender (70) has jail term for sexually abusing autistic boy cut by appeal court
Summary
A 70-year-old man convicted of sexually assaulting an autistic child in Co Mayo had his prison sentence reduced on appeal at the Court of Appeal on 22 January 2018. The UK citizen pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault against an 11-year-old boy in April 2015. He was originally sentenced to six years imprisonment in February 2017. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, reduced the final 15 months of the sentence to a suspended term, conditional on participation in a sex offender programme and good behaviour. The court acknowledged the man's extensive prior history of sexual offences committed in the UK over several decades, describing him as dangerous. However, it noted he had maintained a clean record in Ireland for approximately 22 years prior to this offence and was serving as primary carer for his significantly disabled wife. The suspended element was imposed to incentivise rehabilitation.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "Dangerous" serial offender (70) has jail term for sexually abusing autistic boy cut by appeal court. Charges or matters: one count of sexually assaulting the boy in a rural town in Co Mayo in April 2015. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- April 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 15, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- 1975 and 1995 Incident
- 2018-01-22 Publication
Why: The man successfully appealed his sentence today, with the Court of Appeal holding that some further reduction ought to have been incorporated into his sentence in order to incentivise rehabilitation and to encourage him to treat children "with the respect that they deserve". CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: one count of sexually assaulting the boy in a rural town in Co Mayo in April 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Rory McCabe sentenced him to six years imprisonment on February 15, 2017. Accordingly, the court suspended the final 15 months of a six year sentence on condition he participate in a sex offender's program and be of good behaviour.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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