Courts / Ireland / Report
Church pastor (83) gets 12.5 years for rape and abuse of girl
Summary
An 83-year-old church pastor was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison for raping and sexually abusing a child in his congregation over several years. The man was found guilty of one count of attempted rape, one count of oral rape, and three counts of sexual abuse. The victim, who was between eight and 11 years old during the abuse, described the lasting trauma she experienced, including hyper-vigilance, nightmares, and memory loss. She expressed that the church, which should have been a place of safety, became a place of fear. The defense asked the court to consider the man's age and his long history of religious work, but the judge emphasized the breach of trust and the severity of the abuse. The sentence was reduced by 18 months, which was suspended on strict conditions. The victim's statement highlighted the profound impact of the abuse on her life and her determination to reclaim her future.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Church pastor (83) gets 12.5 years for rape and abuse of girl. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- December 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2026-05-18 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; An 83-year-old church pastor who raped and sexually abused a child in his congregation over a number of years has been jailed for 12 and a half years.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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