A man from Donegal who suffers from the medical condition of dwarfism, has been placed on the sex offenders register and remanded in custody for sentencing in February for indecently assaulting six children, from 1975 to 1988.
Donegal Circuit Court was told yesterday that the victims had waived their right to anonymity so that the defendant would be named.
One woman, who said she was speaking on behalf of all the victims, told Donegal court that Jimmy O'Donnell (55), Belcruit, Kincasslagh, had violated the trust he had been given by family members. Now aged 37, she said her childhood had been taken away, but she now wanted to give hope to other survivors of abuse.
O'Donnell had abused his position of trust and robbed the victims of their childhood, in what was described as a beautiful and quiet rural area, she said. He knew what he was doing was wrong. She was eight and lived in fear each day for years afterwards.
The first male victim was only eight when he was first abused, the second boy was nine while a third was just seven. The fourth boy was 14.
Sgt Gerry Burke told the court how the matter had first come to his attention in April 1998, after one of the victims had approached a colleague.
The first victim had known O'Donnell from early childhood. He was described as a trusted family friend. The abuse took place at a caravan and along with the abuse, photos were taken and used as a threat against the victim.
One girl was nearly eight when she was indecently assaulted. In her statement to gardaí, she said O'Donnell had been used as a babysitter. She had been taken to her parents' room and sexually assaulted.
Ms Grainne McMorrow SC, for O'Donnell, said that he had tendered "an abject apology" to the court. "What can I say? It is a dreadful case and it was inexcusable behaviour," she said.
She said O'Donnell had had triple bypass cardiac surgery and was awaiting a kidney transplant. She asked Judge Matthew Deery to adjourn sentencing until further expert medical and psychiatric evidence would be supplied. The case was adjourned to Letterkenny Circuit Court in February.