A Drogheda man who sexually assaulted a man with cerebral palsy has been jailed by the Central Criminal Court. Martin Khan (37), married and the father of three, from Ballsgrove, Drogheda, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexually assaulting the victim on July 26th and 27th, 1997.
There were distressing scenes in the court when the young man, a wheelchair user, cried out after Mr Justice O'Donovan sentenced Khan to two concurrent 3 1/2-year terms and referred to money he had offered his victim.
The victim, who is unable to walk, crawl or pull himself up to a seated position, and has a considerable speech impediment, earlier told the court he felt his life was at an end over the sexual assaults.
"I feel dirty and humiliated and suffer from nightmares. Sometimes I feel Khan is in my bed at night and I'm afraid of him. I want his name released in the newspapers," he said.
Mr Justice O'Donovan told Khan he had no option but to jail him for his "violation of a very precious position of trust". His victim was very traumatised.
Prosecuting counsel Mr Desmond O'Neill SC said the offences happened at the Augustinian College, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, when Khan was with others as a helper during the annual holiday there for members of a club from Drogheda.
The victim first complained to a female helper who misinterpreted his allegation. When the victim got home he was distressed and his family succeeded in getting details of his allegation.
Sgt Mark Tobin said he arrested Khan, who made a "self-serving" statement concerning the sexual activity. Defence counsel Mr Patrick Gageby SC (with Mr Roderick O'Hanlon) said his client was remorseful and had lost his job, and his guilty plea had saved the victim from giving evidence.