Courts / Dublin / Report

'Predator' jailed for abusing child while parents were on holiday

Summary

Andrew Sankey, aged 57, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting a child between September 1996 and October 2000, when the victim was about eight or nine. The abuse occurred while the child's parents were on holiday; Sankey took the child and her brother to a B&B, then forced the child to touch his penis and later digitally penetrated her under the pretext of bathing her. Sankey had previously been convicted of indecent assault in the UK in 1989 and of possession of child abuse material in Ireland, for which he served six months. The complainant, now in her 30s, testified that the abuse had a deep, lifelong impact, causing anxiety, distrust and anger. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Sankey to two and a half years' imprisonment, a reduction from the headline sentence of three and a half years. The sentence reflects the maximum five‑year term for the offence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Predator' jailed for abusing child while parents were on holiday. Charges or matters: two counts of sexually assaulting the child at her home in Dublin and at an unknown location in the State on dates between September 1996 and October 2000. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• September 1996 Incident
• October 2000 Incident
• 2025-02-07 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report