Judge ‘outraged’ by sex abuse awards woman €200,000

NO amount of damages could compensate a woman who was sexually abused by a man when she was 11 years old and he was 21 years her senior, a High Court judge said yesterday when awarding €200,000 damages in the case.

Mr Justice Paul Butler said he would be less than human not to feel “complete outrage” at what was perpetrated on a child and he rejected defence claims that there was “consent and love” involved.

Mother of three Ann Kelly, aged 48 of Tulach Rua, Currow, Farranfore, Co Kerry sued Stephen “Sonny” Hennessy a farmer from Shannanagh, Querrin East, Kilkee, Co Clare.

The judge said he was more than satisfied that the plaintiff was raped by the defendant. He found Ms Kelly had been abused and said this continued to have a serious affect on her life. No amount of damages could compensate, he said.

Mr Hennessy the High Court heard pleaded guilty at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court last month to four counts of indecent assault between 1968 and 1969 and was given a two year suspended sentence.

It was submitted that between 1968 and 1971 when Ms Kelly was between the ages of 11 and 14 years of age Hennessy was accustomed to calling on her family home which was at Doonaha East, Kilkee where he was trusted by her parents. The court heard that Hennessy, who was 21 years older than the girl, assaulted her sexually and trespassed upon her person on a continuing basis and to varying degrees.

On one occasion it was claimed Hennessy arranged to meet the young girl in a field near her home. It was alleged that he forced her to have full sexual intercourse.

In his defence Mr Hennessy admitted certain acts of intimacy took place between himself and Ms Kelly in 1970 and 1971 but said they were consensual.

It was denied that full sexual intercourse took place and Mr Hennessy claimed that Ms Kelly was 14 years of age at the time.

On the application of counsel for Mr Hennessy the judge said he would grant a stay on his order for 21 days in the event of an appeal.