A Dublin man who was 12 years old when he began sexually abusing his neighbour has been given a two-year suspended sentence.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the accused sexually abused a boy for over two years, beginning when his victim was seven years old. He also threatened to hurt the victim's mother if the victim ever told anyone what was happening.
The accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to two counts of buggery, two counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted buggery on various dates between 1989 and 1992.
Det Garda Andrew O'Keeffe agreed with defence counsel Mr Patrick Gageby that the now 23-year-old accused was no longer a threat to society. Garda O'Keeffe said the accused had shown great remorse and had co-operated fully with gardai.
Judge Kieran O'Connor noted a psychiatric report which said that the accused appeared to have been rehabilitated. He told the accused he had committed terrible crimes and ordered him to pay £2,000 compensation by June 8th.