A WOMAN waited more than 40 years to take a case against a man who had sexually assaulted her because she wanted to leave it until after her mother’s death so as not to upset her, Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Judge Con Murphy heard a babysitter was sexually assaulted by the father of the children she was taking care of over a five-year period in the 1960s when she was between 10 and 15 years old.
Dan Jimmy Curtin (79), Glounakeel, Rock Chapel, Co Cork, received a three-year suspended sentence for his actions after he pleaded guilty to six sample counts on the indictment.
Garda Michelle Power said Curtin used to collect the babysitter in his van and sexually assault her in the vehicle, the parlour of his house or in a cow-shed. The court heard the assaults lasted a few minutes each time and involved Curtin pulling down his victim’s underwear and putting his penis against her vagina.
Judge Murphy was told the victim did not go public with the abuse at the time because she was worried about the impact it would have on her mother.
She felt it would upset her mother too much so she waited for more than four decades to make a complaint to the Garda.
The defendant apologised to the court for his actions. However, Judge Murphy said that the words sorry did not hold much weight without compensation. Curtin’s grown children have agreed to raise €15,000 for the victim.
Judge Murphy took Curtin’s age and ill health into consideration when sentencing. His name was put on the sex offenders register for five years and he received a three-year suspended sentence.
Judge Murphy described the assaults as heinous. “The victim impact statement shows the huge trauma that these offences caused to the victim.”
In her statement, the victim – whom the court ordered should not be named – said: “I was the only one who knew what a monster he was.”
The judge noted the victim waited for years to tell someone but thought she would not be believed and she suffered from loss of esteem.
“It was only as she got older that she realised it was not her fault. She said she was treated with kindness and great sensitivity by the Garda. Over the years she felt sick because of what he had done and felt sick and disgusted at the sight of him.
“There is no doubt she suffered quite a lot of psychological distress because of these actions of the accused,” Judge Murphy said.