A head altar boy who raped and sexually abused a younger altar boy in Dublin from 1990 to 1995 was jailed by the Central Criminal Court yesterday for five years.
The victim, now aged 16, told Mr Justice Carney: "He has ruined my life and my family's whole life. I can't be normal around my friends and family.
"I tried to take my life a couple of times. Only for my friends I would not be here today. One pulled me off a railway bridge. I can't hold down a job and I couldn't hold down school. I just hope I can try and get my life back to normal."
The 22-year-old defendant originally faced a total of 84 charges relating to anal rape, buggery, gross indecency, sexual assault and indecent assault when the victim was aged from nine to 13.
Earlier this year he pleaded guilty to three charges of anal rape, three of buggery, three counts of committing acts of gross indecency, two counts of sexual assault and one of indecent assault on unknown dates from January 1990 to September 30th, 1995.
Mr Maurice Gaffney SC (with Mr Des Zaidan), prosecuting, said the victim was aged nine when the offences began with kissing in the sacristy during Mass and developed into touching, masturbation and full sex.
In 1995 a neighbour tackled the victim, saying a friend of the boy's had told her what was going on. Initially the accused denied the abuse to gardai, but went on to make a full admission and "expressed genuine remorse."
Before imposing sentence Mr Justice Carney said: "The modern view which has been expressed to the court is that the imprisonment of the offender is necessary for the rehabilitation of the victim. The facts of the case speak for themselves."