Courts / Galway / Report

Judge says max penalty for engaging in sex act with child 'might be considered for review'

Summary

In a High Court case, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced Aidan Duffy, 44, of Gort, for a sexual assault of a 16‑year‑old girl and for engaging in a sexual act with a child under 17. The judge set a headline sentence of seven years for the latter charge, noting it might be reviewed elsewhere, and reduced it to five years due to mitigation and Duffy's guilty plea. For the sexual assault count, the headline was eight years, reduced to six years, with the final year suspended for two years; both sentences run concurrently. Duffy was ordered to probation, therapeutic programmes, no contact with the victim or her family, and a five‑year post‑release supervision. The victim, who wished to remain anonymous, described the assault, drug use, and subsequent trauma, while Duffy denied the allegations and claimed the contact was consensual. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the offences and the impact on the victim.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Judge says max penalty for engaging in sex act with child 'might be considered for review'. Charges or matters: one count of sexual assault and one of engaging in a sexual act with a child under 17 at a location in the county on a date in June 2023. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• June 2023 Incident
• 2025-11-04 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report