Man ran out of Gurteen after sex assault on girl

A Gurteen man who has pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of an eight-year-old girl didn’t have a ‘particularly good probation report.’

Larry O’ Toole of 1, Church Gate, Gurteen appeared before Sligo District Court where he pleaded guilty to the sexual assault offence which took place at the Hill Hotel, Gurteen on September 4 th, 2016.

A Probation Report furnished to the court was described by Judge Kevin Kilrane as ‘not a particularly good Probation Report’.

Court presenter, Sergeant Derek Butler agreed, noting that it was ‘quite poor’.

Defending counsel, Mr Keith O’Grady BL, told the court the 76 year old had previously outlined his disgust at himself.

Mr O’Grady said O’ Toole did not have any previous convictions of a similar nature which was unusual.

He said since O’ Toole was highlighted in the media for the offence, and since his picture had appeared in the national media, he was ‘ran out of Gurteen’ and had been threatened quite seriously.

O’ Toole had previously failed to appear in court on January 10 th last, which his barrister explained was due to the threats.

Commenting on the matter, Judge Kevin Kilrane said for a man born in 1943 to ‘interfere’ with a child aged eight or nine, was ‘shocking’.

“It’s puzzling. He has no previous convictions. What drives a man born in 1943 to inappropriately touch a child?

“I can only imagine he has a pre-disposition for paedophilia as someone with normal sexual tendencies would not do that,” said the Judge.

Speaking on behalf of her daughter, who cannot be named for legal reasons, the victim’s mother said her child was still ‘ having issues’ and was ‘ terrified of men’.

The mother said this came to light recently when visiting a hospital and her daughter would not sit in a vacant seat of a waiting room as the person in the next seat was male.

“She shouldn’t have to live like that,” said the mother. She told the court that a Tusla Social Worker was now working with her daughter following the assault.

The court was informed that on the morning of the court last Thursday, O’ Toole was found at Dublin Airport.

After some confusion as to why O’ Toole was at the Airport, it was established he was waiting for an 8am bus to Sligo to appear before the court.

Asked if he had been staying in Gurteen, O’ Toole said he had to stay out of Gurteen for a month after photos appeared of him in the media. He said three different people had told him they would kill him.

Judge Kilrane remanded O’ Toole on continuing bail to appear again before Sligo District Court on May 9 th where a further Probation Report will be made available.