Courts / Wicklow / Report

Former scout leader admits abusing boys in 1970s

Summary

David O'Brien, aged 67, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four counts of indecent assault on three boys under 15 between January 1972 and December 1978, including incidents in Larch Hill, Roundwood, Co Wicklow, and an unknown location. He also pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault on two of the same boys in Powerscourt, Co Wicklow, and two unknown locations between January 1976 and December 1978, involving fondling of the boys' penises. O'Brien, who is currently in custody and appeared frail, was previously jailed for four-and-a-half years in October 2015 for sexually abusing six boys on camping trips in the late 1970s and 1980s. Reporting restrictions were lifted today by Judge Karen O'Connor. The case remains pending sentencing, with the judge adjourned the matter for a hearing on Thursday. The prosecution noted the sentence could take up to a day.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Former scout leader admits abusing boys in 1970s. Charges or matters: four counts of indecently assaulting three boys under the age of 15 between January 1972 and December 1978. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• January 1972 Hearing Or Sentence
• December 1978 Hearing Or Sentence
• January 1976 Hearing Or Sentence
• October 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2019-10-22 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report