A Galway farmer who sexually abused his young nephew has been sentenced to eight years in prison.
The Central Criminal Court heard that he mistreated the boy for helping him with work around the farm, such as guarding the cows, reports Breaking News.
His nephew described in his victim impact statement how he believes the man’s abuse had a profound impact on his life and affected him in ways that still affect him.
The 53-year-old, whose name cannot be released to protect the identity of his nephew, pleaded guilty to assault, sexual assault and verbal abuse of a child between 1989 and 1996 in rural County Galway.
At the time of the crime, the child was between 5 and 13 years old, reports Breaking News.
The 39-year-old nephew told his uncle he should be his guardian, but instead took his childhood and life. He describes how he went through a “horrendous childhood” and completely turned his life upside down.
“You took advantage of me, a helpless innocent child, and used my body to your own advantage, fulfilling your urges. I was passenger in a horror story I could never get out of. You realised I was too afraid to say anything. From then on, nowhere was safe for me,” reports Breaking News.
He was afraid that the abuse would never stop and felt frustration and anger, which leads to poor performance at school.
I want you to know what you done to me has caused me immeasurable pain and suffering,” he told his uncle, reports Breaking News.
In sentencing, Judge Eileen Creedon said the abuse was planned and persistent, inflicted on a very young child in a place where he could expect safety and care. She sentenced him to 12 years in prison.
The investigating officer told Garda Dean Kelly SC that the boy lived near his uncle and grandparents’ farm and went there after school when his parents were working. He came to the farm on weekends.
The crime began with unwanted sexual touching while “games” with the uncle and progressed as the child grew to masturbation and oral rape. The child thought it was wrong and inconvenient, but his uncle told him not to tell anyone.
The violence stopped when the boy went to middle school and told his uncle to leave him alone, reports Breaking News.
The applicant could not report the abuse while her grandparents were around because it would have caused them pain, but after their death he reported it to the Gardaí. His uncle was arrested and questioned, after which he denied committing the crime. He later pleaded guilty.
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