A midlands teenager received a five-year jail sentence at Athlone Circuit Court yesterday. The boy, aged 17, had earlier pleaded guilty at Tullamore Circuit Court to nine counts of sexual abuse and buggery between dates in 1995 and February 1998.
The boy was 13 when he began abusing neighbours' children, all aged between eight and 10. The matter came before Judge Anthony Kennedy yesterday when he read victim impact reports and heard evidence. He sentenced the boy on nine charges, each running concurrently to a total of five years.
However, he suspended the sentence to allow exploration of assessment for treatment at the Granada Institute. He adjourned the case for mention at the next sitting of Tullamore Circuit Court in November.