Man gets 3 years for sex with girl

A FORMER business owner who had sex with his 16-year-old employee after she was drinking with him has been given a three- year sentence and told he must complete a sex offenders’ treatment programme.

Passing sentence, Judge Ray Fulham said the accused, aged 40, “was old enough to be her father” and “what should have been a happy period in the young girl’s life, turned out to be the very opposite”.

Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court heard the man knew she was 16 when she began working for him part-time.

On the night of the offence, on a date between September 1-30, 2008, the girl had a “significant amount” of alcohol taken when he had sex with her.

When her family became aware of the incident, they contacted gardaí who arrested the accused. He made a statement admitting what happened.

A victim impact statement outlined what the judge described as “significant” emotional and psychological distress the victim suffered as a result. She has suffered nightmares, self-harmed and is attending ongoing counselling and needs medication for anxiety.

The judge imposed a three-year jail term but suspended the last year on condition the accused undertakes a therapeutic programme. His name was added to the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.