Courts / Ireland / Report
'Grotesque' to jail man for abuse carried out as teenager, court told
Summary
The Central Criminal Court in Dublin heard that a 39‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault against his 13‑year‑old cousin in 1995 and 1996. The victim, whose identity is protected, said the assaults occurred when the defendant was about 16. She described the first assault as the defendant rubbing his genitals against her outside her clothing and threatening her mother with a heart attack. In a second incident he pushed her onto a bed and molested her; she pushed him off but was too afraid to report it. The victim and her mother approached Gardaí around 1999, but no prosecution was pursued. The victim emigrated and could not attend the hearing; her impact statement was read by the prosecutor. The defendant expressed remorse, citing his youth and lack of awareness of wrongdoing, and requested a non‑custodial sentence. Justice Tara Burns adjourned sentencing to 18 June and remanded the defendant on bail.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Grotesque' to jail man for abuse carried out as teenager, court told. Charges or matters: three counts of sexual assault of the 13-year-old child at a place in Co Kerry on dates sometime in 1995 and 1996. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 2018 Incident
- June 18 Adjournment
- 1995 and 1996 Incident
- 2020-06-10 Publication
Why: He cannot be named at this point in order to protect the identity of the victim. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: three counts of sexual assault of the 13-year-old child at a place in Co Kerry on dates sometime in 1995 and 1996 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Counsel asked the court to consider a non-custodial sentence and said it would be "grotesque" and an offence against justice for his client to be incarcerated for his actions as a young boy.; Ms Justice Tara Burns adjourned sentencing to June 18 next and remanded the defendant on continuing bail.
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