Courts / Ireland / Report

Abuser delighted in 'getting away with it under people's noses', survivor tells court

Date
2024-04-19
Stage
Sentence

Summary

An unnamed 39‑year‑old man was sentenced to four years in prison for nine counts of sexual assault against three girls aged between seven and 17, committed when he was 12 to 17 years old between 1996 and 2022. The court heard that the defendant, who had no prior convictions, carried out a "Nerves" game in which he touched the girls' legs and vaginas, made animal noises, and pinched their vaginas. He also gave a 12‑year‑old girl alcohol and later found her naked in a wooded area, and he touched the breasts and mouth of a 17‑year‑old girl in a carpark. The three survivors gave victim impact statements describing lasting psychological harm, insomnia, anxiety, and loss of trust. Judge David Keane noted the aggravating factors of the victims' ages and alcohol use, and the mitigating factors of the defendant's lack of convictions and cooperation. The unnamed 39-year-old was found guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Abuser delighted in 'getting away with it under people's noses', survivor tells court. Charges or matters: nine counts of sexual assault against three girls who were aged between seven and 17 at the time on unknown dates between 1996 and 2022. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty

When:

Why: I was so terrified to leave her alone with him because I know these things happen," the woman continued. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed 39-year-old

Convicted Person

Charges: nine counts of sexual assault against three girls who were aged between seven and 17 at the time on unknown dates between 1996 and 2022 (Proven)

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; By Claire Henry and Sonya McLean An abuser who "seemed to delight in getting away with it under people's noses" has been jailed for four years for the sexual assault of three girls that began when he was as teenager almost 30 years ago. "I have sacrificed six years of my life to stop this man, but it is the end," one of the survivors told the Central Criminal Court. Judge Keane sentenced him to a global sentence of four years, underlining that the sentence would have been higher if the offences had been committed when the defendnat was an adult.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Read the original CNI report

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