Courts / Donegal / Report
20-year sentence for 'committed' child sex offender who abused four girls over quarter of a century
Summary
A 67-year-old man from Donegal has been sentenced to twenty years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape and sexual abuse of four girls spanning a twenty-six-year period from 1982 to 2008. The defendant pleaded guilty to six counts of rape, one count of attempted oral rape, nine counts of attempted rape, five counts of indecent assault, and twenty-nine counts of sexual assault. Justice Ellen Ring described him as a "committed long-term child abuser" who breached the trust of his victims and their families. The court heard the abuse occurred in various locations including his home and vehicle. The offences involved family members, including his sister-in-law and three nieces, who were aged between five and sixteen at the time. The defendant was assessed as presenting medium to high risk of re-offending with deviant sexual interest in children under sixteen. Justice Ring imposed consecutive sentences for the most serious offences while noting the defendant's guilty pleas and work history.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 20-year sentence for 'committed' child sex offender who abused four girls over quarter of a century. Charges or matters: six counts of rape, one count of attempted oral rape, nine counts of attempted rape, five counts of indecent assault and 29 counts of sexual assault in locations including the man's house and car; six counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and five counts of indecent assault relating to the first victim, the man's sister-in-law. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 1982 Incident
- March 1988 Incident
- March 2000 Incident
- December 2007 Incident
- March 2008 Incident
- March 1982 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2008 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 1, 2022 Other
- 1982 and 2008 Incident
- 2000 and 2005 Incident
- 2000 and 2004 Incident
- 2023-06-19 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: six counts of rape, one count of attempted oral rape, nine counts of attempted rape, five counts of indecent assault and 29 counts of sexual assault in locations including the man's house and car; six counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and five counts of indecent assault relating to the first victim, the man's sister-in-law (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A "committed, long-term child abuser" who had to be extradited to face trial has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the rape and sexual abuse of four girls over a 26-year period. Ms Justice Ring said she would impose consecutive sentences given there was a gap in the offending and that the man abused three of his victims over the same time period.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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