Teen who abused his niece, 8, avoids jail

THE decision by a judge to give a teenager a suspended sentence for raping his eight-year-old niece has been heavily criticised by the director of a sexual violence centre.

The High Court sitting in Cork heard that the teen acted out pornographic scenes he had been viewing from the age of nine or ten.

The 19-year-old from Munster pleaded guilty to seven Section 4 rapes and ten sexual assault offences and the sending of lewd texts to his niece. He was aged between 14 and 17 and the girl was between eight and 11 during the period from May 2016 to April 2019 when the sexual abuse occurred. His niece said that the boy threatened to do the same to her younger sister and that she felt proud that she had protected her sister from his abuse.

Mary Crilly, director of the Cork Sexual Violence Centre, said of Judge Deirdre Murphy’s decision: ‘I’ve always believed if someone is found guilty of child sexual abuse that they have to get mandatory sentences, then after that the judge can use whatever discretion they want.

‘The idea of a suspended sentence for abusing a child is just beyond belief. I do hope the

‘I hope the DPP appeals the sentence’

Director of Public Prosecutions does appeal the leniency of the sentence in this case, that he calls this one out and seeks a review of this five-year suspended sentence.’

Ms Crilly said she admired the courage of the victim in the case and was sorry that she did not get the justice she deserved.

The youth, whose sentence was finalised yesterday, was ordered not to be in the company of children unsupervised or to go anywhere near the victim.

Conditions were attached to the five-year suspended sentence – including that the youth not reoffend and that he co-operate with the Probation Service, notify gardaí of any change of address, engage with programmes and therapies and liaise with the education and employment services. The youth will be supervised by the Probation Service for the full five years of his suspended sentence.

Judge Murphy also ordered that he undergo a psychiatric assessment and that queries be explored in relation to an autism diagnosis.