€1,750 fine for man who had sex with 16-year-old
Judge Con O’Leary indicated yesterday that a €1,500 fine would be imposed on him if he did not make that payment for the expenses the victim incurred in getting counselling.
Two years after their relationship ended she made a complaint against the man to gardaí and he was prosecuted for having sex with a child under the age of 17. The girl was 16 years and 10 months old at the time — about two months short of the legal age to have consensual sex. He was 19 at the time.
The case was adjourned yesterday until October 22 for payment of the €1,750.
Insp Mary King said they met each other via social media and went on a first date to the cinema. Insp King said the two were in a relationship with each other for three months and twice engaged in sexual acts in the girl’s family home.
In the charges brought against the defendant it was stated that in May 2012 he engaged in a sexual act, namely the penetration of the mouth with the penis, with a child under 17; and in June 2012 he engaged in sexual intercourse with her.
“She says she reluctantly engaged with the sexual acts with the defendant. He was 19 years and seven months, she was 16 years and 10 months. It bothered her for a long time and she thought about it for a long time afterwards. She made the complaint two years later,” said Insp King.
Earlier this month Judge O’Leary expressed concern at apparent discrepancies between the account given by the woman in her victim impact statement and in the prosecution’s account. However, the judge said that in the context of her original statement of complaint, which he has since read, the victim impact statement was more consistent. Defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said there was no defence objection to the judge reading that original statement but that the defendant, who pleaded guilty, would disagree with many of the details.
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