Courts / Cork / Report
12-year sentence for elderly man who abused and tried to rape his special needs niece
Summary
An elderly man, aged 75, was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to 12 years' imprisonment, with six years suspended, for attempting to rape and sexually assaulting his special‑needs niece between 2005 and 2011. The court heard that the victim, aged 11 to 14 at the time, was abused in various locations in County Cork and County Limerick, including a house, a car and a bedroom in the niece's grandparents' home. The man pleaded guilty, and his cooperation and early plea were cited as mitigating factors. Judge Tony Hunt suspended the final six years on the condition that the defendant keep the peace and have no contact with the victim for life. The victim's impact statement described ongoing fear and emotional distress caused by the abuse. The defendant had no prior convictions. The case was prosecuted by Martina Baxter BL and defended by Mary Rose Gearty SC.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 12-year sentence for elderly man who abused and tried to rape his special needs niece. Charges or matters: attempted rape and the sexual assault of the child at a place in county Cork on unknown dates between 2005 and 2008. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 23, 2011 Other
- 2005 and 2008 Incident
- 2011 and 2012 Incident
- 2016-01-15 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: attempted rape and the sexual assault of the child at a place in county Cork on unknown dates between 2005 and 2008 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: An elderly man who admitted molesting and trying to rape his niece with special needs has received a sentence of 12 years with six suspended. Mr Justice Tony Hunt said that the man's co-operation with gardaí and his early guilty plea would normally entitle convicts to one third of their sentence being suspended.
Places mentioned
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