Former church volunteer who offered €50 to boy for sex gets five years in jail

A FORMER Eucharistic minister who offered a 13-yearold schoolboy €50 for sex has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Thomas Folliard (63), of Church Road, Aughamore, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, was found guilty by a jury earlier this year of propositioning the youth for sex in a south Mayo town in January of last year.

When he appeared for sentencing yesterday, Judge Rory MacCabe said the accused had shown no remorse and that he continues to deny and accepts no responsibility for his predatory behaviour. Before sentencing Folliard, the judge described the offence committed as “grave” and “despicable”.

At the trial hearing earlier this year, evidence was given by the victim that the accused followed him from a shopping centre and propositioned him on a nearby street.

Folliard, who was charged under Section 3 of the Child Pornography and Trafficking Act, 1998, had money in his hand. He first asked his victim if he wanted to make some money and then offered him €50 for sex.

When the boy refused and began to move away, Folliard told him he was a “lovely lad”.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the victim, who cannot be named, said he had to get a lift home from school for some time after the incident as he was in fear.

He had also stopped engaging in sport and would cross the road if he saw anybody “suspicious” approaching.

Brendan McDonagh, defence counsel, said Folliard was kind and helpful to elderly people in the community. Folliard had no previous convictions.

Judge MacCabe said there was evidence of premeditation in that the accused followed his victim. He added that the absence of remorse gave him some concern as to risks he might pose in the future.