€200k award over sex abuse

A man sexually assaulted as a child by someone he regarded as a father figure has been awarded €200,000 aggravated damages against his abuser in a key High Court ruling.

Mr Justice Michael White’s judgment creates a new civil wrong covering the long term control and manipulation exercised by an abuser over their victim.

An emotional Cormac Walsh, from Arklow, Co Wicklow said he hoped the court’s decision on his case against Michael Byrne, a former teacher and brass band leader, from Templerainey, Arklow, will help other victims of abuse.