Courts / Dublin / Report

Abuser and serial offender lured boy to flat

Summary

In a 2002 case, Jim Fitzsimons, a former shop manager, lured a 12‑year‑old boy to a flat in Dublin where he and convicted sex offender Kevin Brazil sexually assaulted the child. Fitzsimons used promises of employment and cash gifts of €150 and €50 to groom the boy, while Brazil offered alcohol. The boy reported the abuse to his father, who took him to a Garda station, but the investigating officer failed to forward the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, a mistake the judge described as regrettable. Fitzsimons pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault and was convicted on 10 October 2022. The judge imposed a headline sentence of 40 months, reduced to 30 months after considering mitigating factors. Brazil, aged 52, had previously been jailed for a similar offence and had pleaded guilty to assaulting a 12‑year‑old child.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Abuser and serial offender lured boy to flat. Charges or matters: three counts of sexually assaulting the victim on dates between May and August 2002; sexual assault of the 12 year old child. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

• August 2002 Hearing Or Sentence
• October 10 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2022-10-27 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report