Courts / Waterford / Report
'Family man' who led 'double life' with rape and abuse of girl gets 10 years
Summary
David Kearney, 39, was sentenced to ten years in prison for a series of sexual offences against a girl who was aged 11 to 16 during the period from April 2019 to October 2023. He pleaded guilty to twelve counts of sexual abuse, including rape, oral rape, anal rape and the use of communication technology to facilitate the exploitation of a child under 17. Kearney's crimes were committed while he was living a double life as a family man, partner and father, and a drug user and sexual abuser. The court noted that the victim, now 17, had endured severe emotional trauma and that Kearney's appreciation of his wrongdoing was limited. The judge imposed a 10‑year custodial sentence, suspended 18 months, with conditions including therapeutic programme participation, no contact with the victim, and probation supervision for 18 months after release. The sentence was reduced from an initial 11½‑year term after mitigation arguments.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Family man' who led 'double life' with rape and abuse of girl gets 10 years. Charges or matters: 12 counts of sexually abusing the child, including charges of sexual assault, rape, oral rape and anal rape on dates between April 2019 and October 2023; one count of using communication technology to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 17 during a similar time period. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 2019 Incident
- October 2023 Incident
- 2025-10-17 Publication
Case subjects
Applicant
Charges: 12 counts of sexually abusing the child, including charges of sexual assault, rape, oral rape and anal rape on dates between April 2019 and October 2023; one count of using communication technology to facilitate the sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 17 during a similar time period (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: David Kearney (39) engaged in a "campaign of grooming" against the girl and his appreciation for what he has done is "limited", Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring said as she sentenced him in the Central Criminal Court today. "It is clear that he was living a double life," the judge said. "He was a partner, a father and hard worker on one hand – and a drug user and sexual abuser on the other." Kearney, of Cork Road, Waterford, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of sexually abusing the child, including charges of sexual assault, rape, oral rape and anal rape on dates between April 2019 and October 2023. She suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on a number of conditions, including that Kearney engage in a therapeutic programme for sex offenders and have no contact with the girl during his time in custody and for five years after his release.
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