A FORMER scout leader who indecently assaulted two boys almost 20 years ago has been given a five-year suspended sentence.
Joe Nugent (50) of Griffith Avenue, Clonmel, Tipperary, had pleaded guilty to nine charges of indecently assaulting the two boys on dates between January 1st, 1989, and December 31st, 1989.
Judge Donagh McDonagh sitting at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court ordered that Nugent must “not have contact whatsoever with young people when he is on his own”.
“If he has any contact with young people, he must be in the company of mature and responsible adults in a structured and supervised manner,” said Judge McDonagh.
Nugent, who was 26 years old at the time of the offences, was a scout leader and brought the two boys, who were aged 10 and 11, on hiking and cycling trips.
During the course of interacting with the two boys Nugent engaged in touching them inappropriately inside and outside of their underwear.
Once a complaint was made to the Garda, Nugent admitted the offences and co-operated fully from the outset. “He was under the impression that he was suffering from underdeveloped genitals which led him to the fascination of the genitals of other males and young boys,” said Judge McDonagh.
Judge McDonagh noted Nugent’s father had died when he was a baby and he came from a large family of nine children.
“He seemed to think he wasn’t afforded the same love as his siblings by his mother and when he perceived he had a genital problem he felt he had no one to turn to,” said Judge McDonagh.
In a victim impact report one of the victims said he “couldn’t sleep properly, had behavioural changes and was prone to self harm”. His second victim said he had “educational problems, drugs and alcohol problems”.
“There is no doubt these are serious crimes and the injured parties have suffered grievously,” said Judge McDonagh.
Suspending the sentence, Judge McDonagh noted that Nugent has given a full apology to his victims, their families and the Scouting Association and also paid his victims €10,000 each in compensation.