CONVICTED CHILD rapist and gangland criminal Stephen “Rossi” Walsh has been found guilty of the sexual assault and defilement of a child.
Walsh (64), formerly of Belgrave Road, Rathgar, and also Harold’s Cross Road, Harold’s Cross, is currently serving 10 years for the rape and indecent assault of two girls aged nine and seven.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court had entered pleas of not guilty on behalf of Walsh in relation to 14 counts of sexual assault and defilement of a child on dates between August 1st, 2008 and January 6th, 2009. The now 17-year-old victim broke down and was embraced by her parents as the verdict was read out.
After less than two hours of deliberation the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on 11 counts – two of sexual assault and nine of defilement. Judge Desmond Hogan had previously withdrawn three counts of defilement, as no evidence was heard in relation to them.
Judge Hogan thanked the jurors, five men and seven women, for their service which he said was often a “harrowing” experience.
Walsh, who represented himself after sacking his legal team in the final days of the trial, did not react to the verdict and immediately indicated he intends to appeal his conviction.
During the trial the victim told Tara Burns, prosecuting, she was first introduced to Walsh, a friend of her father, when she was in sixth class. He became a regular visitor to her home and in July 2008, when she was 14, he moved in with the family.
She said that on the day he moved in, he gave her a letter where he had written that he loved her “more than she could ever imagine” and could not wait to give her “a big hug”.
The girl broke down as she told the jury that about two weeks after he moved in she was at home alone with Walsh when he suggested they have a staring match.
He kept edging closer to her and she put her two hands up “because I was scared”. He then told her he was going to “get involved” with her and later said he loved her.
About two weeks later, she and Walsh were alone again when he brought her to a bedroom in the home and attempted to have sexual intercourse with her. He then digitally penetrated her.
She said on the next occasion, he brought her to a house in Glasthule where he had full sexual intercourse with her, which caused her to bleed. She said: “I asked him to stop but he continued to do it. I asked him to stop because the pain was so bad.”
She detailed another encounter at the same address where Walsh asked her to leave on her school uniform skirt while he attempted to have intercourse with her.
Another time at the same address, during her mid-term school holidays, Walsh received a phone call from her father while she was in the bedroom with him.
She said he “put the phone out the window so it sounded like he was outside”, as he had previously told her father he was on Camden Street in Dublin city centre. Following the conversation, Walsh said to her he had to go to place a bet for her father.
When he returned, Walsh was “stressing” because the docket he received when placing the bet gave the address of the bookmaker’s as Dún Laoghaire and he was afraid her father would realise he had lied to him.
The girl detailed to the jury two further occasions in December 2008 and early January 2009 when Walsh had sexual intercourse with her before she told her mother what had occurred between them.
He fled her house on the morning of January 6th, 2009, and her mother and the girl followed him in the car. When they caught up with him, he got in the car and the girl challenged Walsh to tell her mother what had happened.
He denied anything occurred between them and jumped out of the car and walked away. She followed him and said: “Why have you made a liar out of me in front of my Mam?” Walsh replied: “I am 62, you are 15, if anyone knew they would crucify me.”
Throughout the trial, Walsh challenged the legality of his arrest and detention. Retired superintendent PJ Browne denied under cross-examination that Irishtown gardaí had launched “a crusade” against Walsh.
During the trial, Walsh twice interrupted proceedings to demand that counsel stop cross-examining the victim and her mother.
He sat with his hand over his face while the girl repeatedly broke down during cross-examination by John Peart SC, defending.
The victim told Mr Peart that Walsh was “very trusted” by her family. Breaking down, she said: “It all happened. Everything I have said is the truth.”
Walsh then rose to his feet and while waving his arms said: “Just leave it. I don’t want her cross-examined any more.”