Judge seeks services for "loner" who abused

A JUDGE yesterday ordered the State to find out what noncustodial services were available for a mentally handicapped "loner" …

A JUDGE yesterday ordered the State to find out what noncustodial services were available for a mentally handicapped "loner" who sexually abused boys in Kerry and Dublin.

In March the 50 year old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three offences on dates from July to September 1993.

He admitted committing an act of gross indecency on a 16 year old youth in Kerry and a second charge of indecently assaulting him. He also admitted indecently assaulting a 13 year old boy in Dublin.

Mr Justice Flood adjourned the case to July 1st and said he was giving no guarantees about the sentence he would impose.

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However, inquiring into the services and facilities available to the man was "a matter of Christian charity, and justice had to be administered with charity", he said.

A Garda sergeant said the defendant had one previous conviction in 1991 for false imprisonment of a boy in the toilets of Dublin's Connolly Station. He was placed under probation supervision for 20 months.

He said the defendant had a difficult childhood in Irish orphanages, and claimed to have been sexually abused while working in England when aged 15.

He had worked in the building trade here but had no friends and had the social and interaction skills of a 13 to 14 year old, the sergeant said.

Both the sergeant and the defendant's former landlady agreed he was "one of life's victims". But, the sergeant added he was concerned "in case this would be visited on someone else".

Mr Maurice Gaffney SC (with Mr John Edwards), prosecuting, said the defendant had abused the first victim while staying in a house in Kerry.

He bought the youth gifts and brought him for trips in his car.

The second victim met the defendant while camping with a friend and both accepted a lift to Dublin, Mr Gaffney said.

Defence counsel Mr Martin Giblin SC said his client appeared to be suffering from a mental handicap and had a mental age below that of an adult. He was now unemployed and was living in a west of Ireland hostel run by a religious order.