Man, 84, faces assaults sentence

An 84-year-old man who pleaded guilty to 10 sexually related charges has had his sentence adjourned until May 15.

Before Judge Barry Hickson at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court was William Busher, of Ballycleary, Kilmore, Co Wexford, who could be named after the injured parties waived anonymity.

Prosecuting counsel Philip Sheahan said the offences were against Maire Busher and occurred over a six-year period, beginning when she was 6. He said there were 24 counts of sex assault while the defendant had entered a plea of guilty on Feb 7 to six representative counts which were now before the court.

Ms Busher said in her victim impact statement: “I am still discovering all the ways that the abuse has affected my life. It destroyed my childhood and teenage years and it still affecting my life in so many ways.”

Garda Robert Aylward outlined details to the court of the indecent assaults on Margaret Sillis with the first occurring on Apr 1, 1968, up to Mar 1971, with four charges of indecent assault in total.

He read her impact statement to the court.

“You stole my innocence and pride and there are no words that can truly reflect the pain, fear and lifelong scars you have instilled in my mind.”

Judge Hickson said the two victims can be proud of what action they had taken for William Busher will have to live with their words ringing in his ears for the rest of his days.