A 67-year-old man who sexually abused his granddaughter about 20 times has had his sentence adjourned to assess his risk of reoffending.
He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four counts of sexual assault between January 2006 and January 2008 when the girl was aged between seven and 10. The abuse occurred at his north Dublin home, the girl’s home and while they were on holiday.
The now 11-year-old girl told gardaí he touched her but she was afraid to tell anyone in case he would hurt her or kill her.
Garda Sgt Damien Gannon told prosecuting counsel Gerardine Small, that the girl told her mother about the abuse in January 2008 after having been given a “facts of life talk”. She cried as she said her grandfather had been “touching her” since she was aged “six and three quarters or seven”.
She said it first happened when her grandfather was babysitting her. She said she did not know what was happening and thought she may have been “hallucinating” because she was so young.
It happened again when she was sitting on his lap when at his house for Christmas and another time during her 10th birthday party. She told her mother she was frightened and kept asking herself why it was happening.
On one occasion she asked her grandfather why he did it and he said that he did not know. She told him, “Grandad isn’t bold, grandad will stop doing it.” He told her not to tell anyone and playfully tipped her on the nose. Shortly afterwards he followed her into the kitchen and again sexually assaulted her.
She said the abuse was the same every time and it happened on about 20 occasions. She said she was frightened to tell anyone but her grandfather never threatened her.
After she told her mother, gardaí were alerted and arranged for him to come in for a voluntary interview. He admitted an “inappropriate relationship” and said he would rub her belly when she had a stomach ache and would then touch her elsewhere.
He said it occurred over the course of two years and did not disagree that it could have happened up to 20 times. Sgt Gannon said he was very emotional and broke down crying.
“I idolise those kids, obviously there was something going on, I can’t say what,” he told gardaí. “It’s not the kid’s fault.” Sgt Gannon said he had no previous convictions and had worked all his life before retiring a few years ago.
Cathal McGreal, defending, said his client was disgusted with himself and never tried to offer any excuses.
He added that there was no evidence of threats or intimidation against the girl.
Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned the case until May and ordered the Probation Service to assess his risk of reoffending.
The judge remanded him on continuing bail until then.