Man described as ‘serious risk to young children’ jailed for six years

An elderly man, described as “a serious risk to young children”, has been jailed for six years with the final 18 months suspended for sexually assaulting boys.

Douglas Taffe, aged 77, who has multiple convictions for sexual offences against children, dating back almost 50 years, was sentenced at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.

The serial child sex abuser pleaded guilty to repeatedly abusing two school boys in Limerick City over a three- week period between October and November last year.

Taffe, of no fixed abode, befriended his victims, who were aged nine and 10 at the time, by rewarding them with cigarettes, money, crisps and soft drinks.

The State accepted his guilty plea to six sample charges, after he initially appeared before Limerick court last February charged with 19 counts of sexually assaulting young boys.

Det Garda Mark Deasy, of Mayorstone Garda Station, previously told the court, the offences happened on a daily basis. He said Taffe first met the boys when they were fishing at Canal Bank, Limerick, during their mid- term break from school.

Det Garda Deasy said the defendant would lure boys to makeshift hut off the main canal walkway.

While there, he would put his hands down the boy’s pants and feel their genitals and buttocks.

Taffe also forced the two boys to kiss him on the lips, the court heard.

Gardaí became aware of the offences when the mother of one of the boys confronted Taffe after her son told her that he had given him cigarettes and that Taffe had arranged for them to meet up again.

Judge Carroll Moran was told Taffe has 26 previous convictions relating to sexual offences between Jan 1, 1966 and Feb 23, 2008. The offences, occurring in Limerick, Cork, Tipperary and Kilkenny, include rape, sexual assault, and the indecent assault of boys and girls.

In sentencing Taffe, the judge said: “This man is a serious risk to young children, but I cannot commit him to jail forever. He’s to be bound to the peace for six years. If he breaches this he may well have to serve out the suspended part of the sentence.”