Courts / Dublin / Report

Gardai failed to follow up on abuser's admission, court hears

Date
2019-07-22

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a 2019 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 74‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to indecent assault of his nephew, a boy aged about 13 or 14, committed between 1980 and 1983. The judge, citing the offence's maximum sentence of two years, imposed 16 months imprisonment, noting the defendant's age, remorse, guilty plea and mitigation. The court heard that the victim had been watching an Elvis Presley film when the uncle entered, forced the boy onto the couch, removed his clothes, and performed an anal rape. The uncle threatened the boy with death and family breakup if he disclosed the abuse. The defendant had 30 prior convictions, including firearms, drug possession and indecent assault. Gardaí had received an admission in 1989 that the defendant had done something "wrong" to the victim but did not investigate or inform the victim.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Gardai failed to follow up on abuser's admission, court hears. Charges or matters: indecent assault at a location in Dublin on a date unknown between September 1, 1980 and September 23, 1983. Procedural stage: sentence

When: