Trusted neighbour abused three children over a 13-year period
Judge Eugene O’Kelly said the defendant had shown no remorse for his actions
A MAN who was a trusted neighbour but who sexually abused three young children over a period of 13 years was last week sentenced to more than five years’ imprisonment when he appeared before Carlow District Court.
Judge Eugene O’Kelly said when he was sentencing the man that he had shown no remorse for his actions, which took place from 1977 to 1990 on a farm in Co Carlow and sentenced him to five years and three months’ imprisonment, with none of the term being suspended.
The defendant (61), who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at the July sitting of Carlow Circuit Court to sample counts of the indecent assault of three children – two boys and a girl – and sentencing was adjourned for the preparation of a psychological report.
Barry White SC told Judge O’Kelly that his client had intellectual difficulties and that while the defendant stood over his guilty pleas, he did not offer an apology to his victims.
Judge O’Kelly noted that some of the aggravating factors were the young ages of the children, the frequency of the abuse and the fact that he has never shown remorse for his actions.
The court heard that the abuse of the girl involved digital penetration and getting her to hold the defendant’s penis, while the abuse of the two boys involved masturbation.
Judge O’Kelly also noted that the defendant warned the children not to tell anyone, which would indicate that he knew what he was doing was wrong. He added that the abuse of the three siblings was a “breach of trust” of the family and that he had access to the children because the family had trusted him.
Judge O’Kelly recalled that the female injured party had read out a victim impact statement at the hearing in July, in which she said that the abuse had an effect on her relationship with her own family and children and that she still felt guilt and shame.
Judge O’Kelly said that the sentence must reflect the seriousness of the offence committed, while also noting that the defendant’s low intellect could be why he expressed no remorse or apology. He also said that it showed he had a “lack of concern for others”.
Judge O’Kelly then sentenced the man to five years and three months’ imprisonment and that “no suspension of any of the sentence is warranted”.
