A sports coach in his 60s, who was found guilty of thirty-one counts including the rape of one girl and sexual assault of another girl, has been jailed for 14 years.
The man from Kerry, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the two victims, appeared at the Central Criminal Court in Cork today.
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The court previously heard Victim Impact Statements from the victims, one of whom said the man had used threats to keep her from speaking out, while the other girl said the man had used her passion and ambition to gain control over her.
Today Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford said it’s clear from the evidence there was a huge abuse of trust, a huge age disparity, as well as attempts by the man to alienate the girls from their parents.
She also said the language in the Victim Impact Statements is similar, where both girls said they were children who had trusted the man completely.
Judge Lankford noted the man does not accept the jury’s verdict and had offered no remorse, and said he is not entitled to a reduction in his sentence as she cannot see any mitigating factors.
Anyone affected by this report, may contact the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre on freephone 1800 633 333, or the 24-hour National Rape Crisis Helpline on freephone 1800 77 88 88.
