A Co Kerry man who sexually abused a young girl on a weekly basis between July 1993 and September 1995 has been jailed for four years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Ted Hennessey, of Casements Avenue, Rock Street, Tralee, was convicted of nine counts of sexual abuse of the girl who was then aged between 13 and 15. He was convicted on October 18th.
Judge Patrick McCartan imposed nine concurrent four-year sentences and said no prohibition should be placed on Hennessey's name being published. "The people of Tralee need to know that you are someone who has done wrong. The community will be in a position to know more of you when you are released from prison."
Mr Roger Sweetman, for Hennessey, said his client had made efforts to come to terms with what he had done and would benefit from further counselling.
Judge McCartan said Hennessey's conduct was "fundamentally evil and wrong". The abuse involved "very skilful and devious manoeuvres" on his part to gain contact with the girl. "It involved the most serious abuse of the most important trust of all that exists - that between a young person and an adult."
He said the impact on the victim had been devastating. Her relationship with her parents had been seriously damaged, her schooling affected and her relationship with close friends, including her boyfriend, severely damaged. She would require long-term counselling.
He said the victim, who was in court, was not "one jot" to blame.