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74-year-old faces jail for indecently assaulting boy in the 1980s after failed conviction appeal
Summary
Thomas Mooney, 74, of Belvedere Place, Dublin, was convicted of indecently assaulting a boy aged 11 to 13 on eight occasions between October 1983 and June 1985. He pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, but a jury found him guilty after an eight‑day trial. Judge Catherine Murphy sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years. Mooney appealed, arguing that a voluntary statement he made to Gardaí while not in custody should not have been admissible. The Court of Appeal, hearing a ten‑minute video in which Mooney confirmed the contents of that statement, dismissed the appeal. The judges noted that Mooney had been in his forties when the offences occurred and that the victim was always under 15. The case was scheduled for further proceedings on 30 July, with Mooney remaining on bail until then. The appeal was rejected, and Mooney will be taken into custody following the court's decision.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 74-year-old faces jail for indecently assaulting boy in the 1980s after failed conviction appeal. Charges or matters: eight counts of indecently assaulting a boy when he was aged between 11 and 13 on dates between October 1983 and June 1985. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- October 1983 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 1985 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 25 2014 Incident
- Thursday July 30 Incident
- July 30 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-07-16 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: eight counts of indecently assaulting a boy when he was aged between 11 and 13 on dates between October 1983 and June 1985 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; He was found guilty by a jury following an eight day trial and sentenced to four years imprisonment with the final two suspended by Judge Catherine Murphy on July 25 2014. Unless there was some application in relation to the sentence, and the court heard that a sentence appeal was still live, Mr Justice Birmingham said Mooney should organise his affairs and prepare accordingly.
Places mentioned
- Belvedere Place
- Dublin
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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