Courts / Dublin / Report

"Innocence and childhood" taken away after abuse at sleepovers

Date
2019-07-18
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

A 41‑year‑old man was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for three counts of sexual assault against a 14‑year‑old girl who was invited to his home for sleepovers in October 2016. The judge suspended the final six months on condition of probation supervision. The victim, now 16, described feeling "dirty, depressed and angry," having self‑harmled and experiencing suicidal thoughts, and said her parents had been deeply affected, with her father unable to work for three months. The man had denied the charges but was found guilty by a jury. He had no prior convictions, had represented Ireland in sport, and was described by his defence as an "aberration" in his life. He will be registered as a sex offender and subject to post‑release supervision. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Innocence and childhood" taken away after abuse at sleepovers. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Unnamed 41-year-old

Convicted Person

Outcome: The 41-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for three counts of sexual assault committed at his home in Dublin on October 23 and 30, 2016. Passing sentence today, Judge Karen O'Connor suspended the final six months on condition that the man be subject to supervision by the Probation Service.

Places mentioned

Incident
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Topics

Sexual Offences Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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