Courts

Kilkenny man jailed for 19 years for sexually abusing eight boys

John Curtin’s abuse of children began 30 years ago and continued for 12 years, court told

Some of the boys reported the abuse in 2000, and the gardaí were alerted, but the case did not progress. Photograph: Dave Meehan
Some of the boys reported the abuse in 2000, and the gardaí were alerted, but the case did not progress. Photograph: Dave Meehan
Fiona Ferguson
Mon Nov 04 2024 - 16:51

A Kilkenny man who sexually abused eight boys has been jailed for 19 years.

The Central Criminal Court heard how John Curtin’s abuse of the children, which began 30 years ago and continued over 12 years, has profoundly affected the victims throughout their lives.

They described Curtin (59) variously as a “monster”, “devil”, “scumbag” and a “creep.”

The court heard how the psychological impacts of the abuse blighted the lives of Curtin’s victims as they grew up and started families of their own. They described how their education, relationships, mental health and employment had all been negatively impacted by the ongoing effect of the abuse.

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Some of the men told the court of turning to drink or drugs and having suicidal thoughts.

Curtin, with an address at Salome Place, Monmeenroe, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, was convicted by a jury last May of 78 counts which included charges of oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault against eight young boys on dates between 1995 and 2007. He has no previous convictions.

The now adult complainants have indicated they wish to retain their anonymity but have no issue with Curtin being named.

Passing sentence on Monday, Ms Justice Eileen Creeden said it was clear from all the men’s victim impact statements that they had found the court process extremely difficult and had been re-traumatised as a result of having to go back and re-live events in evidence.

She said the abuse had a profoundly negative effect on the men’s whole lives including their relationships, family dynamics, ability to trust and not reaching their full potential in life.

Ms Justice Creedon set a headline sentence of 20 years. She said she was unable to identify any mitigation, noting Curtin had fully contested the trial and not made any apology or acknowledgment of the jury verdicts.

She imposed a 20 year sentence with the final year suspended for one year on conditions including probation supervision, attending a sexual offenders treatment program and no contact with children.

During the trial, the court heard the offences involved eight young boys who described how Curtin abused them in his homes and also in some other rural areas.

Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, said the offending followed a similar pattern in each case where Curtin “lured them into conversation by the offer of cigarettes” at about 11 years of age and then invited them into his home “where he would prey on their innocence, naivety and confusion”.

Curtin would encourage the boys to touch him and in some cases the abuse escalated to anal or oral rape. He would also encourage some boys into his car with the promise they could sit on his lap and steer the car. Curtin used this opportunity to abuse them.

The first boy was sexually assaulted and anally raped by the man on dates between 1995 and 1996 when he was between 11 and 13 years old.

In his victim impact statement, the man described the adverse and ongoing effects of the abuse on his life and family. He told the court of the “massive burden” the court process had been on them but said he “would do it all over again” to put away a rapist and child abuser like Curtin.

A second man was sexually assaulted between the ages of 11 and 12 years old on dates between 1997 and 1999.

This man told the court the crimes have had a lasting effect on him but he hopes he can move on now that this process is over. “So many peoples lives have been affected,” he said. “Now it’s time John Curtin’s life is affected and he pays for what he has done.”

A third boy was sexually assaulted, including both anally and orally raped when he was between 11 and 13 years old on dates between 1996 and 2000.

In his victim impact statement he described how he had been let down in relation to the case previously but hoped he would get justice now.

A fourth boy was between 11 and 13 years old when he was sexually assaulted by the man on dates between 1999 and 2000.

In his victim impact statement, he described the trauma and isolation he felt and told the court that in general “people were clueless” to effects of sexual offences on a person’s life.

A fifth victim was a similar age when he was also sexually assaulted by Curtin.

He told the court his education, relationships, life and work were all affected. He said he had been trying to be happy on the outside but felt “dead” inside.

The sixth boy was orally and anally raped and sexually assaulted by the accused when he was between 10 and 15 years old on dates between 1999 and 2003.

In his victim impact statement, he told the court that since the abuse his outlook on life had been different. He said Curtin, whom he called a “a devil of a man” had taken his youth and innocence.

The seventh boy was sexually assaulted more frequently than the other boys with Curtin being convicted of 27 counts of sexual assault and anal rape against him while he was aged between 12 and 16 years old on dates between 2001 and 2006.

“It broke me inside and out,” he said, “I turned on the world as I did not know who I could trust.”

The last of the boys was sexually assaulted and orally raped by the man during time he was 10 to 16 years old on dates between 1999 and 2003.

He said he had missed a lot of opportunities due to the effects of the abuse on his life but now wanted to put it behind him and have happy normal life, with his self esteem and confidence back.

Some of the boys reported the abuse in 2000, and the gardaí were alerted, but the case did not progress. The abuse again came to light during a subsequent investigation a number of years later and this disclosure led to the other men coming forward.

Rosin Lacey SC, defending, said Curtin continues to deny the charges and does not accept the jury verdicts.

She said Curtin was a father of four and recently lost his wife. He had come to Ireland from the UK following a childhood during which he witnessed domestic abuse. He worked as a porter in Kilkenny Hospital for a number of years.

Ms Lacey handed in letters from three of his children and a further three from friends of the family in relation to their experience of Curtin and details of his mental health struggles.