TWO Limerick women who were sexually abused when they were children by a former member of the Defence Forces said they came forward to Gardaí so that no other child would potentially be harmed by the retired soldier.
The 62-year-old man, cannot presently be named due to a court order protecting the identities of the two victims, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard.
However, the court was informed by prosecuting counsel John O’Sullivan that, while both victims had stressed they wished to retain their anonymity, they wish to see the legal restrictions in respect of the defendant lifted.
The man pleaded not guilty to a total of five counts of indecently assaulting two girls, Miss A and Miss B, who the court heard were between the ages of three and eight when the sex attacks occurred in the 1980s.
A jury found the man guilty on four of the counts, and could not agree on the fifth.
Miss A told Gardaí that, on one occasion, the defendant, who was aged in his 20s at the time, told her they were “boyfriend and girlfriend” and got her to masturbate him.
The defendant, who is facing a potential 10 years in jail, also told her they were going to be married, but that it was to be their “secret”.
On another occasion, in a shed, the defendant pulled the same victim’s underwear to the side and rubbed his naked penis against her vagina, which left her traumatised and physically sore.
Detective Garda James Muldowney, Limerick Garda Divisional Protective Services Unit, told the court that Miss A was “between the ages of three and eight at the time”.
Ms A made a complaint to Gardaí in January 2020 and informed Miss B, who then made a complaint about her own case that July.
Ms B was using a bathroom when the defendant walked in on her and told her to pull down her underwear and asked her to touch and kiss his penis.
On this occasion, the defendant also touched and kissed Ms B’s vagina, the court heard.
At the time, Ms B, who was aged five or six at the time, told her parents about the abuse and a complaint was made to Gardaí, who in turn sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who directed no prosecution against the man.
Following the victims making formal complaints against the man in 2020, he was arrested but he denied all allegations.
The two women said they had come forward in order to “protect other little girls”.
The man’s barrister, senior defence counsel Anthony Salmon, said the defendant had served an honourable career in the Defence Forces.
Mr Salmon argued that while there was little by way of mitigation, there was no evidence that the defendant had had “penetrative” sex with the girls.
He told the court the defendant, “who is married with children”, suffers from “severe and chronic depression and back pain” and that his wife is “dependent on him for basic household tasks”.
Mr Salmon said that, despite the defendant having pled not guilty to all of the offences, “he wishes to state he now accepts the validity of the jury’s determination in this case”.
He told judge Colin Daly that the nature of the offences was “not at the higher end of offending, and I would ask you to sentence him accordingly”.
Mr Salmon asked the judge to take into account the defendant’s past “service to the state, and his previous good character until his convictions caught up with him”.
Judge Daly said he had “much to consider” and remanded the defendant on continuing bail for sentencing on April 28.
Impact statements
Both survivors said they hoped their speaking out and making formal complaints about their abuser would help show “other victims of historic sexual abuse that it is never too late to pursue justice”.
They thanked Detective Garda James Muldowney; Limerick state solicitor Padraig Mawe; prosecuting barrister John O Sullivan; and Judge Colin Daly for allowing them address the court.
Miss B said: “Before these heinous acts were committed on me I was a carefree, innocent six-year old little girl who had no idea of sexual behaviour or deviancy.”
“As a child, I was confused and terrified. The person who hurt me was someone who was supposed to protect and serve our community. Instead, he took advantage of my innocence and vulnerability.”
Ms B said the sexual abuse “shattered” her trust in others. She praised her parents “who instantly believed me and brought me to make a statement to Gardaí”, following the abuse, a week prior to her first holy communion, despite the DPP determining at that time there would be no prosecution.
Ms B said she endures feelings of “shame, guilt, and worthlessness” isolation “anxiety, depression” and her “memories of the abuse, which continue to haunt me”.
She also struggled with the anxiety “that there are many more (paedophiles) out there, it has affected my family who felt helpless in bringing this pedophile to justice, I watched it have a devastating impact on my parents and siblings”.
Miss B said the defendant “caused such damage, both by his disgusting actions and his subsequent denials and accusations that it was me who was in fact a liar”.
“I want to thank my mother, who is here today, for always believing me. My father died thinking (the defendant) had gotten away with what he did to me, I know if he was here today he would be relieved to see that justice has been finally been achieved.
“The only reason I have put myself and my family through this is to keep other children safe from this man. There is nothing else in this for me.
“He is now a convicted paedophile. I am certain that he thought he would never have to answer for what he did to me but I am relieved that my allegations were finally taken seriously by the DPP and that (the defendant) is being held to account.”
“If (he) had been held accountable when I made my original complaint, (Miss A) may have avoided his depraved actions. My hope is that by making his crimes known to the public he will never have the opportunity to harm another child.”
Miss A said the sexual abuse “warped” her childhood, and that, “despite extensive and ongoing therapy, the psychological scars never go away”.
Miss A said she feared she would not be able to protect her own daughter when she “moved out into the world”.
“I feared for her and all little girls because of men like (the defendant). It was then that I knew I had to come forward (to Gardaí) once and for all,” she said.
“He has never shown a smidgen of remorse. Self-preservation regardless of the fallout for everyone concerned with this case, appears his only concern.
“He needs to go to prison for justice to be served. Justice has been delayed but it should not be denied.”
