Courts / Dublin / Report
Courageous child told abuser uncle to stop, court hears
Summary
An uncle, aged 17 when he first began sexually abusing a six‑year‑old girl while babysitting, was jailed after the abuse continued for two years. The child, then nine, told him, "I don't like this and it has to stop," after which the abuse ceased. The court noted the uncle's role as a trusted caregiver and that he was a minor at the time of some offences, with the offences extending beyond his minority. He was assessed by the Probation Service as a moderate risk of re‑offending. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final two years on strict conditions, including compliance with Probation Service directions for two years after release. The victim, now 12, testified that the abuse made her feel blamed, unsafe around men, and that she uses clothing to cover herself. The unnamed 25-year-old pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Courageous child told abuser uncle to stop, court hears. Charges or matters: sexual assault of a child at a place in Dublin on dates between January 2012 and September 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 2012 Incident
- September 2014 Incident
- May 2018 Incident
- 2020-10-20 Publication
Why: She said she thought that her uncle may have abused her because "he didn't know what having a girlfriend was like or how to pleasure a girl". CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: sexual assault of a child at a place in Dublin on dates between January 2012 and September 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: An uncle who only stopped sexually abusing his niece when the child told him: "I don't like this and it has to stop", has been jailed. She sentenced the man to five years imprisonment, but suspended the final two years on strict conditions, including that he follow all directions of the Probation Service for two years post-release.
Places mentioned
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