A MAN who indecently assaulted his sister more than 35 years ago when she was aged eight has been given an 18-month suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Paul Roche (52), Wellmount Avenue, Finglas, pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault of his sister between April 3rd, 1976 and April 2nd, 1978 in Glasnevin.
Reporting restrictions were lifted by prosecution counsel on behalf of the victim in order to have Roche named in the media.
Judge Patrick McCartan said Roche “abused the confidence and trust of being an older brother. The grievous wrongdoing was inflicted on his younger sister, who was extremely vulnerable and of an innocent age. His age at 16 could not be an excuse of interference on a child so young. Having done grievous wrong to his sister, he did what he could to put matters right and admitted it from the outset,” he said.
Evidence was heard that over the two-year period, Roche had entered his sister’s bedroom on different occasions, lain down beside her and indecently assaulted her with his fingers. Once, the victim came home from hospital after a tetanus injection and Roche assaulted her in a similar manner.
Two incidents of indecent assault were recalled when the victim was on her way home from school and went to where her brother worked, to wait for a lift. He assaulted her there. “He would give her money and sweets and threatened her not to tell anyone,” said Tara Burns, prosecuting.
In April 2010 the victim made a statement to gardaí, and when Roche was interviewed he accepted the allegations but could not recall the exact details.
Paul Carroll, defending, said Roche told gardaí “if she said it then I accept it happened”, and apologised for the wrongdoing.
In a victim impact statement, the woman said when the abuse began she “couldn’t sleep and cried all the time. He gave me sweets and money and told me it was to be our secret. When I was going to tell my mother about it, he would clench his fists and glare at me. I found I was unable to trust anyone and I had no confidence. . . I always thought an older brother would look out for a sister.”
She said in her thirties she had a nervous breakdown and was suicidal. “He ruined my childhood, teenage years and adulthood and I did not do anything wrong.”