Courts / Galway / Report

Accountant who sexually assaulted four young girls has sentence reduced on appeal

Date
2015-02-11

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Killimor

County
Galway

Summary

Liam Brien, 44, was convicted of 22 counts of sexually assaulting four young girls between 1996 and 2006 in Killimor. After a five‑day trial at Galway Circuit Criminal Court, he received an eight‑year prison sentence on 17 March 2013. Brien appealed, arguing that the indictment should have been severed and the cases tried separately. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction but reduced the sentence by three years. The appeal judge noted that the joint trial was appropriate because the abuse involved a systematic pattern of grooming, use of computer games, and repeated sexual contact with the children. The new sentence is six years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on the condition that Brien keeps the peace, behaves well, seeks transfer to Arbour Hill prison, and completes the sexual offenders programme there. Liam Brien pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Accountant who sexually assaulted four young girls has sentence reduced on appeal. Charges or matters: 24 counts of sexually assaulting four young girls on Main Street, Killimor on dates between 1996 and 2006. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

March 17, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
1996 and 2006 Other
2015-02-11 Publication

Case subjects

Liam Brien

Appellant

Charges: 24 counts of sexually assaulting four young girls on Main Street, Killimor on dates between 1996 and 2006 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; However, by reference to other sentences, Mr Justice Birmingham said, the sentence imposed on Brien was "somewhat out of line to such an extent that an error in principle" was identified. The court substituted his original sentence for a sentence of 6 years imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended on condition Brien will keep the peace, be of good behaviour, seek a transfer to Arbour Hill prison and complete the sexual offenders programme there.