Wicklow man repeatedly sexually assaulted granddaughter and believed he was 'in a relationship' with her
Seán McCárthaigh
An elderly Wicklow man who carried out repeated sexual assaults on his granddaughter over a six-year period believed he was “in a relationship to a certain extent” with her, a court has heard.
The 78-year-old pensioner, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim, pleaded guilty at a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court to 14 sample counts of sexually assaulting the girl on unknown dates between January 2019 and September 2024.
The court heard that the accused was charged with a total of 53 offences in relation to sexually assaulting his granddaughter.
Detective Garda Stephanie Hallahan gave evidence that the offending began when his victim was aged 11.
Det Garda Hallahan said the offences took place at two properties in Wicklow and at locations in the county when the accused had his granddaughter in his car as well as in a property in Spain.
She said gardaí became aware of the case in September 2024 after the accused, who minded his granddaughter while her mother was at work, became angry and upset with the teenager because of a love bite on her neck.
Det Garda Hallahan said the girl had remarked that he was “only jealous that he had not given her the love bite himself” and told her mother about the sexual abuse who reported the matter to gardaí.
During specialist interviews, the girl revealed how her grandfather began the sexual assaults by touching her breasts and vagina outside her clothes when she was 11.
When she was aged 15-16, it progressed to touching her in the same areas under her clothes.
Det Garda Hallahan said the accused also digitally penetrated his granddaughter while masturbating himself.
She told prosecution counsel, James Kelly BL, that the victim told gardaí that she would be abused four to five times per week.
The court heard that the accused made full admissions to gardaí after he was arrested last December.
Asked if he had offered any explanation for his actions, Det Garda Hallahan said he believed he was “in a relationship to a certain extent” with his granddaughter.
In a victim impact statement provided to the court on behalf of her daughter, the girl’s mother said she was “heartbroken, confused and devastated” that the man she trusted the most had let her down “in the most unimaginable way.”
The woman recalled how her daughter had been called a prostitute by her grandfather because she had found “a nice boy of her own age".
She described how she tortured herself over how she had failed to see what was happening to her daughter.
“How could I be asleep in the same house when she was suffering,” she remarked.
The woman said she was also worried that her daughter would be overwhelmed by what had happened.
“He has shattered my sense of safety and trust in the world,” she added.
The court heard that a decision was taken that the accused would move abroad but he had returned voluntarily when contacted by gardaí.
Defence counsel, Colman FitzGerald SC, noted the widower had lost his family but wanted to express his shame and remorse.
The court heard the accused had been held in high esteem in his local community and had been “a good family man and provider".
Mr FitzGerald said the man’s relationship with his granddaughter was “inexplicably delusional".
He read out an apology written by the accused which expressed regret for the hurt and damage to a family that he still loved.
Mr FitzGerald said his actions were “utterly appalling” and ones which he “could not yet fully comprehend himself".
He said the man no longer had any contact with any relative apart from his sister.
Judge Patrick Quinn remanded the accused in custody to a date in early December when he will finalise sentencing in the case.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.
