Yesterday another male victim related how his wife's attachment to the Catholic Church had caused marriage problems. "The more she moved closer to the church, the greater my anger rose because of what Smyth did to me," he said. He told prosecuting counsel, Mr Patrick McCarthy, that his parents had been very friendly with Smyth long before he was born and the defendant was regarded as a family member. He became very rebellious towards them in his teens because of Smyth's abuse. The offences had devastated the whole family.
The man said he wanted to thank the court for giving him an opportunity to speak about his problems. Judge Kelly noted that all who came into the witness-box had acted very bravely. He congratulated Det Insp Thomas Dixon, who headed the Garda investigation. "It was obvious he put an enormous amount of work into assembling all the evidence and witnesses for the hearing," Judge Kelly said.
Judge Kelly noted also that Mr Gregory Murphy SC, who was to have led the defence, was "medically indisposed" and he suggested that all in court would join him in hoping Mr Murphy would soon be back among them.
Smyth (70) pleaded guilty to the 74 charges in Dublin District Court and on April 22nd affirmed those pleas in the Circuit Criminal Court.
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.