Courts / Dublin / Report

"Perverse": man who pretended to be talent agent abused children in hospital bathroom

Date
2019-10-31
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Tallaght
County
Dublin

Summary

Brendan Clifford, 34, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual exploitation of a child and sexual assault of another child at Tallaght Hospital in 2015. The victims, siblings aged nine and ten, were brought to the hospital by Clifford, who posed as a talent agent named David White. He administered cream to the children's legs, bum and penis, and requested removal of their underwear during treatment. The mother, suspicious after receiving an email from a purported agent, discovered the deception. Clifford had no prior convictions and is married with three children. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation supervision for 18 months after release. The judge described his conduct as "very devious" and "perverse.".

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Perverse": man who pretended to be talent agent abused children in hospital bathroom. Charges or matters: the sexual exploitation of a child at Tallaght Hospital, Tallaght, on February 23, 2015; sexual assault of another child at the same location on an unknown date in 2015; the offences. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Brendan Clifford

Defendant

Charges: the sexual exploitation of a child at Tallaght Hospital, Tallaght, on February 23, 2015; sexual assault of another child at the same location on an unknown date in 2015; the offences (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He sentenced Clifford to five years imprisonment, but suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions including that he follow all directions of the Probation Supervision for 18 months post release.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Facility
Incident

Topics

Fraud Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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