Teacher jailed over sex assault of girl, four

A TRAINEE Montessori teacher who sexually assaulted and took pornographic pictures of a four-year-old girl in his care has been jailed for five years.

The court heard that the child, with special needs, was afraid to go back to the specialised play school she attended. She told her mother that Kevin Muldoon, 32, had taken photos of her ‘bum’ and ‘pants’.

Gardaí later discovered 46 images of the girl sent from the man’s phone to his email address, including photos of her private parts and of him with his finger in her mouth.

Muldoon, of Rockwinds, Church Road, Killiney, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual assault and production of child pornography on May 8, 2014. He further admitted possessing 688 i mages of child pornography found on hard drives and computers during a raid on his premises, his family home and the play school, on May 15, 2014. He has no previous convictions.

The girl’s parents, in a victim-impact statement read out in court, said the man’s ‘despicable and disgusting behaviour’ would impact them as a family for the rest of their lives. They said that as a four-year-old girl their daughter was ‘stripped of her dignity and innocence’.

They said the incidents had been imprinted on her mind and that she struggled socially and had night terrors. They revealed they were grateful that their little girl had been able to speak up about the abuse.

Ann-Marie Lawlor BL, prosecuting, told the court yesterday that the child’s parents did not have an issue with Muldoon being named in the media as long as the victim was not identified through reporting of the case.

Ms Lawlor confirmed to the court that there were no other allegations against the man from other parties.

Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Muldoon to five years in prison and ordered that he engage in treatment while in jail. The judge also imposed five years of post-release supervision.