Richard Farrell jailed for six years, with final two years suspended, for defiling teenage player

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Richard Farrell, 61, was sentenced to six years in prison, with the final two years suspended, after a jury convicted him of four counts of defilement. The offences took place between August 2008 and January 2009, when the girl was 16 and Farrell was her soccer coach.

The sentencing judge set a headline term of seven years. Farrell must undergo two years of probation supervision and appropriate assessment and treatment, including a therapeutic programme for harmful sexual offending. Conditions also require cooperation with multi-agency risk management, including any restrictions on access to children or other vulnerable people.

The court heard the offending had a profound effect on the woman’s confidence, trust and relationships. She told the court she had believed the abuse was love. Farrell had pleaded not guilty at trial; his defence counsel said he accepted the jury’s verdict and that his conduct was wrong.