Brendan Smyth (69) has already served two prison sentences in
Northern Ireland for similar offences committed there. Smyth, with an address at Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, came directly into custody in the Republic on March 21st, 1997, after being released from prison.
He pleaded guilty to the 74 charges in Dublin District Court and on April 22nd affirmed those pleas in the Circuit Criminal Court.
Smyth stood impassively on that occasion, nodding his head in agreement and occasionally replying "yes" almost inaudibly as the registrar read out each charge to him and asked him if he affirmed the guilty pleas.
He pleaded guilty to 62 offences of indecent assault on males and females in a hotel, boarding houses, a cinema, a boathouse, an abbey, a convent and in other venues in several counties within the State on dates from January 1st, 1958, to December 31st, 1993.
He also pleaded guilty to 12 charges of sexual assaults on males and females on dates from January 1st, 1991, to December 31st, 1993.
The offences took place in nine counties over four provinces.
Females were the victims in 61 instances. One woman was the victim in 24 of the charges.
The first complaints were made to the RUC in March 1990, and he was charged in January 1994. Some of the 74 charges were for offences committed after the RUC investigation began.
Mr McCarthy said Smyth was jailed for four years on June 24th,
1994, by Belfast Crown Court for eight offences. He was convicted on eight more charges in 1995 and jailed for two more years, to run concurrent with the four years.
After a Counterpoint television programme about him in 1994, complaints were made to the Garda.
Mr McCarthy said Smyth declined to co-operate with the Probation
Service for provision of a report directed by the court. He had shown no insight at all into the emotional cost his offending had on his victims.