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Grandmother avoids jail for abuse of orphan girl (11) in 1970s
Summary
Rita Ryan, aged 69, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two charges of indecent assault against an 11‑year‑old girl she abused while working as a care assistant at an orphanage in the early 1970s. The abuse, which began with a question about "French kissing" and escalated to mutual masturbation and oral sex, continued for over a hundred occasions until the victim left Ireland. Ryan accepted the court's suggestion that her conduct was a "romantic" or "intimate" relationship and acknowledged it was sexual abuse. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two‑year custodial term, fully suspended, and ordered Ryan to pay €15,000 to the victim as a token of remorse, with a further €15,000 within a year. The judge noted Ryan's admissions, lack of prior convictions, and community contributions as mitigating factors, while emphasising the prolonged nature of the abuse and the age disparity between the parties.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Grandmother avoids jail for abuse of orphan girl (11) in 1970s. Charges or matters: two charges of indecent assault of the girl at the orphanage in Dublin on dates between December 1971 until October 1974. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 2016 Other
- December 1971 Incident
- October 1974 Incident
- 2020-11-10 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: two charges of indecent assault of the girl at the orphanage in Dublin on dates between December 1971 until October 1974 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Collins) A grandmother who sexually abused an 11-year-old girl in the orphanage she was working in almost 50 years ago and who told gardaí she believed she was in a romantic relationship with the girl, has received a fully suspended sentence. Today Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Ryan to a two-year term, which he suspended in full having heard the evidence yesterday and adjourning the case overnight to consider it.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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