A man who admitted raping and sexually assaulting a boy over a seven-year period broke down and apologised to the victim and his family at Galway Circuit Court yesterday. John Flaherty (53), a retired Army private, from Renmore, Co Galway, said he was tormented for years and often contemplated suicide for what he had done.
Judge Carroll Moran adjourned the matter for six months and ordered the defendant to comply with the directions of the Probation services and continue with counselling. He warned him that he would be facing a prison sentence if a favourable report from the Probation Service was not forthcoming.