Courts / Dublin / Report
Ex-soldier who sexually assaulted young boy has jail term cut on appeal
Summary
John Patterson, 58, of Drimnagh, was convicted of 14 counts of sexual assault against a boy on Mourne Road between 2001 and 2003. A jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty and Judge Donagh McDonagh sentenced him to eight years' imprisonment and ordered him to pay €24,000 in compensation from his Army pension on 25 November 2010. On appeal, Justice Garrett Sheehan, sitting with Justices George Birmingham and Alan Mahon, upheld the eight‑year sentence and the compensation order but suspended the final 21 months of the term. The Court of Appeal had earlier suggested that Patterson might participate in the 'Building Better Lives' sex offenders programme, but his counsel noted that Patterson was ineligible because he had not pleaded guilty. John Patterson pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Ex-soldier who sexually assaulted young boy has jail term cut on appeal. Charges or matters: 14 counts of sexual assault committed against a boy at Mourne Road on dates between February 22 2001 and September 1 2003; the offence. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- February 22 2001 Incident
- September 1 2003 Incident
- November 25, 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-03-02 Publication
Why: However, his counsel, James Dwyer BL, said Patterson had been told he's not eligible to enter the programme because he had not pleaded guilty to the offence. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: 14 counts of sexual assault committed against a boy at Mourne Road on dates between February 22 2001 and September 1 2003; the offence (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Having been found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Patterson was sentenced to eight years imprisonment and ordered to pay compensation from his Army pension in the sum of €24,000 by Judge Donagh McDonagh on November 25, 2010. Having been sentenced four years ago, the Court of Appeal was limited in its approach, however, eight years was "undoubtedly on the high side," Mr Justice Sheehan said.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Mourne Road
- Mourne Road
- Irish Prison
Topics
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