Man described as a ‘fantasist’ by convicted abuser says he is a realist

A man who had to give evidence in two trials before his former scout leader was convicted of indecently assaulting him at the age of 13 has spoken of his pain at having been discredited as a “fantasist” by his abuser.

A jury last week unanimously convicted Michael Noel Sheehan (76), of Chimneyfields, Grenville, Co Cork, of indecently assaulting the boy scout in the 1980s.

Sheehan did not give evidence to his trial but Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard a memo of his interview with gardaí, in which he called the allegations “rubbish”.

“I cannot remember 35 years ago but I would not have done such a thing. I think he (the complainant) was a bit of a fantasist,” Sheehan said.

In a victim impact statement, the complainant, now aged 48, said he was shocked by the feelings that came over him as he walked towards the courtroom and saw Sheehan for the first time in decades.

“My heart stopped and I felt the same fear I felt as a 13-year-old boy,” he said.

Sleepless nights

He said he found going to court and being questioned “in graphic detail” on every aspect of his statement “distressing” and that it led to many sleepless nights and much anxiety.

“It has also been extremely difficult hearing the constant denial from the accused and his attempt at discrediting me, calling me a ‘fantasist’ when in fact I’m a realist.”

The man said said that as a young boy he was taught the scouting motto ‘be prepared’ but that nothing could have got him ready for what Sheehan did during a weekend away.

He said he was woken up by the sound of a zip opening and felt a man’s hand entering his sleeping bag. He said he froze and felt terrified and helpless and that the experience would remain “the most vivid memory I have from my entire life, regardless of all that has happened to me in the past 35 years”.

‘Speak up’

He said he told his children about the abuse inflicted by Sheehan, which was very difficult but “important because I wanted them to know that we have to speak up for what is right”.

The jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court was not told that another jury had previously failed to reach a verdict in the same case last year. They took around three hours to find Sheehan guilty of indecently assaulting a teenager in Glenville at a point between January 7th, 1986 and April 31st, 1987.

Sheehan accepted that the complainant was on a scouting weekend away but he denied abusing him. He claimed he had he never slept near “the young fellas” because he had many things to do on weekends away.

Sheehan was remanded in custody pending his sentencing next Monday.