Man who had sex with 16-year-old when he was 19 is sentenced

A Co Mayo man has been sentenced to two years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court following his guilty plea to the defilement of a 16-year-old girl in June 2012, when he was 19 years old. The victim, a relative of his former partner, was described in court as a deeply innocent child who suffered significant psychological trauma following the incident. The court heard she subsequently experienced suicidal ideation and severe eating difficulties. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy rejected any characterisation of the matter as consensual activity between young people near the age of consent, stating the accused had exploited the girl in a squalid manner. The judge imposed a concurrent four-year post-release supervision order and mandated sex offender registration. The accused, who initially denied the allegations before making admissions, expressed remorse. His counsel noted he had no prior convictions and indicated positive rehabilitation since the offence.