A MOTHER whose 10 year old son was sexually assaulted by a Co Kildare teacher told Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday that her main concern was that he would never teach children again. The 40 year old secondary school teacher, who has resigned from his post, pleaded guilty to assaulting the boy last August.
He was given a five year suspended sentence by Judge A.G. Murphy, who described the case as one of the saddest ever to come before his court.
A Garda sergeant said in evidence that the man had been holidaying in the area. On the second evening of his visit he began playing with children on the beach, hiding money beneath stones and having them search for it. When they found money, he allowed them to keep it.
The 10 year old victim was among the children. Later in the evening, when the boy went into the toilet, the teacher followed him and told him to take down his pants. The boy refused, but the man pulled his pants down and touched him. He warned the boy that he would hit him if he told anyone what had happened.
The boy told his parents what had happened to him. The sergeant said that a victim impact report showed that the boy had suffered from trauma and sleepless nights.
Mr Don McCarthy, prosecuting, said the child's mother was deeply concerned that the defendant should not continue teaching or be in a job where he would be in contact with children.
Judge Murphy said he was satisfied that the man would never be employed as a teacher again.