Courts / Donegal / Report
10 years for "extreme" sexual abuse of cousin
Summary
A man has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his conviction on twenty-four counts of indecent assault. Thomas Patton, aged 51, was found guilty by jury in July of abusing his young cousin over a six-year period between 1984 and 1990 at Castlefinn, County Donegal. The offending began when the victim was six years old. Judge Melanie Greally imposed four years for offences committed when Patton was a minor and six years for those committed in adulthood, to run consecutively. The judge cited the extreme nature of the abuse, its duration and regularity, the victim's age, breach of trust, and severe psychological harm as aggravating factors. In mitigation, she noted Patton's youth during the initial offences, absence of previous convictions, and subsequent productive life. The victim, who waived anonymity, described lasting trauma and family division resulting from disclosure. Thomas Patton pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 10 years for "extreme" sexual abuse of cousin. Charges or matters: 24 counts of indecent assault of his cousin at Castlefinn, Co Donegal, on dates between April 1, 1984 and January 1, 1990; the 24 counts by a jury following a trial in July, last. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- April 1, 1984 Incident
- January 1, 1990 Incident
- 2019-11-07 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: 24 counts of indecent assault of his cousin at Castlefinn, Co Donegal, on dates between April 1, 1984 and January 1, 1990; the 24 counts by a jury following a trial in July, last (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; She sentenced him to four years imprisonment for the earlier offences and six years imprisonment for the later offences. She ordered that the sentences run consecutively with each other for an effective operating sentence of ten years imprisonment.
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