Sligo man, 35, jailed for the defilement of two minors

A Sligo man has been jailed for a total of two and a half years after pleading guilty to two counts of defilement against two girls under the age of 17.

Keith Hession, aged 35, Cairns Hill admitted having oral sex and digitally penetrating the two teenagers on dates between January and March 2011.

Judge Francis Comerford jailed the defendant for two and half years on the first count, but suspended one year of that that sentence for two years.

He jailed Hession for two and half years on the second count but suspended the final 18 months of that sentence for two years.

The complainants told yesterday’s Sligo Circuit Court through their counsel that they wanted the identity of the defendant revealed.

Judge Comerford agreed, adding nothing be published identifying the victims.

The court heard earlier that Hession, who was described as a “vulnerable” individual in court, began texting his victims before he and another individual, not before the court, took them to a location where the sexual assaults took place.

The judge said he did not accept the defendant’s plea that he was not aware that the girls were underage.

The judge said the age gap between Hession and his victims was an aggravating factor. He said there was a degree of persuasion and pre-meditation which was also an aggravating factor.

Judge Comerford said he accepted jail would have an effect on a person like Hession, who had no previous convictions, and he hoped he would get the necessary help in prison.