Courts / Waterford / Report
Council worker jailed for 10 years over rape and abuse of sisters
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, former Waterford County Council worker Bartholomew Prendergast was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for rape and indecent assault of three women, including sisters Stephanie Hickey (aged 12‑15 at the time of the offences) and Deirdre Fahy (aged 13‑14). He pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and thirteen counts of indecent assault against Hickey between 1983 and 1987, one count of indecent assault against Fahy between 1979 and 1981, and two counts of indecent assault against a third woman (now 39) between 1988 and 1991. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions, requiring Prendergast to undergo a sex‑offender treatment programme and be supervised by the Probation Service for 18 months. The hearing highlighted the prolonged abuse that continued despite family intervention and a priest's counselling, and the profound impact on the victims' lives.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Council worker jailed for 10 years over rape and abuse of sisters. Charges or matters: the offences following a day of legal argument after a jury had been sworn in for his trial; two counts of rape and 13 counts of indecent assault of his sister-in-law Stephanie Hickey at locations in Co Waterford and Co Tipperary on dates between 1983 and 1987; one count of indecent assault against Ms Fahy on a date between 1979 and 1981, while she was aged between 13 and 14 years old; two counts of indecent assault of a third woman, now 39 years old, on dates between 1988 and 1991, while she was aged between nine and 12 years old. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 2015 Incident
- April 2016 Incident
- June 1981 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 1988 Other
- 1983 and 1987 Incident
- 1979 and 1981 Incident
- 1988 and 1991 Incident
- 2018-12-03 Publication
Why: She said on the day of the rape she had asked him to stop because it hurt but he said it would get better. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the offences following a day of legal argument after a jury had been sworn in for his trial; two counts of rape and 13 counts of indecent assault of his sister-in-law Stephanie Hickey at locations in Co Waterford and Co Tipperary on dates between 1983 and 1987; one count of indecent assault against Ms Fahy on a date between 1979 and 1981, while she was aged between 13 and 14 years old; two counts of indecent assault of a third woman, now 39 years old, on dates between 1988 and 1991, while she was aged between nine and 12 years old (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Today Ms Justice Eileen Creedon suspended the final 18 months of a ten year prison sentence on strict conditions, including that Prendergast undergo a sex offenders treatment programme and be under the supervision of The Probation Service for 18 months.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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