A 70-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment for an indecent assault committed 20 years ago.
Clonmel District Court, Co Tipperary, was told the defendant bought ice-cream for the then 10-year-old girl he was looking after and then indecently assaulted her in his car.
The Clonmel man pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault on a date unknown in March 1977.
A complaint was made last year and the man made a full admission when approached by gardai. Judge Patwell said it was a horrific crime and had to carry a custodial sentence. Twelve months was the maximum he could impose but he reduced it to six months because of the plea and the length of the time that had elapsed.