Paedo scout leader jailed for assault
James Leddy A SCOUT leader who sexually abused his teenage neighbour was jailed for three months.
James Leddy, 55, was convicted of three counts of indecently assaulting Colm Bracken, 51, at the pervert’s former home in Artane, North Dublin.
Mr Bracken said his happy childhood disappeared when he was first assaulted in 1981, around the time of his 13th birthday.
He said he had been playing on the street with a friend when Leddy called invited him in to his house to learn First Aid.
After offering his victim a a cigarette, Leddy, of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown in the west of the city, assaulted the Colm Bracken child. The predator told the child not to tell anyone or he would tell his parents that he’d been smoking.
Leddy denied the charges but was convicted last December at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mr Bracken waived his right to anonymity.
Defence counsel Fiona Murphy said Leddy is aware of the emotional and mental torment he caused Mr Bracken and is “genuinely remorseful that he has caused this”.
She added: “His genuine instruction is that he has no recollection of it but he fully accepts guilt and offers a full apology.”
Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Leddy to eight months in prison but suspended the final five months on strict conditions, including that he engage with the Probation Service.
She noted he is a married man with five children and references before the court referred to him as being a “trustworthy” and “a good family man”.