Courts / Galway / Report
Pensioner gets nine years for 'persistent, deplorable' rape and abuse of girl
Summary
Sean Kinneavy, 74, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for 47 counts of sexual assault and two rapes involving a girl aged 10‑15, who was 50 years his junior. The offences occurred between January 2013 and June 2018 in Dublin and Galway. Kinneavy was directed to pay €38,000 in compensation to the victim and her mother for financial losses incurred while caring for the victim. He maintains his innocence and has no prior convictions. The judge noted the persistent nature of the abuse, the breach of trust, and the impact on the victim, describing the crimes as "deplorable". A two‑year post‑release supervision order was also imposed. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody in November last year. The court considered Kinneavy's age and good character as mitigating factors, but found the repeated offences outweighed them. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting trauma and financial burden she endured.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Pensioner gets nine years for 'persistent, deplorable' rape and abuse of girl. Charges or matters: 47 counts of sexual assault and two of rape using an object following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- January 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020 and 2021 Incident
- 2025-02-24 Publication
Why: The victim said the trial was "re-traumatising" and its end does mean the end of her turmoil because she will carry this trauma for the rest of her life. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: 47 counts of sexual assault and two of rape using an object following a trial at the Central Criminal Court (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Mr Justice Keane imposed a sentence of nine years on Kinneavy in relation to the rape offences and a concurrent eight-year sentence for the sexual assaults, backdating the sentence to November last when Kinneavy went into custody.
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