Courts / Dublin / Report
Decorated soldier used trusted position to abuse young boys
Summary
Michael McGuinness, a 61‑year‑old former army driver, was found guilty of indecent assault on three boys aged seven to thirteen between 1979 and 1990. The victims, who waived anonymity, described how McGuinness used his trusted military reputation to lure them, often disguising himself as a friend and forcing them to masturbate him in his car or home. The abuse was revealed when one victim reported McGuinness to Gardaí after meeting him through work. McGuinness pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault, admitted his actions as a "dark dirty secret," and expressed remorse. He had no prior convictions. The court noted the repeated nature of the offences and the lasting impact on the victims, ordering reports and remand pending sentencing on March 15 next year. The maximum sentence for each count is two years, except the final count, which carries a maximum of ten years.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Decorated soldier used trusted position to abuse young boys. Charges or matters: five counts of indecently assaulting the three boys in Dublin and in unknown locations in the State between 1979 and 1990. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 15 Adjournment
- 1979 and 1990 Incident
- 2021-11-30 Publication
Why: "He was seen as trusted in the area because he was in the army," the man said in his victim impact statement. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: five counts of indecently assaulting the three boys in Dublin and in unknown locations in the State between 1979 and 1990 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: One of his victims told the sentence hearing that McGuinness disguised himself as a friend. "In reality he was a predator". "He was seen as trusted in the area because he was in the army," the man said in his victim impact statement. She ordered a number of reports and remanded McGuinness in custody pending his sentence on March 15 next year.; She ordered a number of reports and remanded McGuinness in custody pending his sentence on March 15 next year.
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