Bus driver jailed for abusing sisters during ‘sweet games’

A bus driver has been sentenced to four and a half years after pleading guilty to indecently assaulting two sisters, after he tricked them into playing “sweet games”.

Cathy and Caroline Brady waived their anonymity in a bid to name abuser Leo McFarland, now aged 57.

McFarland had originally, when he appeared in court, pleaded not guilty to a total of 53 charges against the sisters in the kitchen of his home and in his mini-bus in Co Donegal.

The abuse occurred for two years between 1983 and 1985 when the girls were aged 5 and 7.

However, the father of five changed his plea and admitted the charges after the first of the victims, Cathy, gave her evidence.

His case had been put back until yesterday for a probation and psychological report.

Donegal Circuit Court yesterday heard how the lives of the women had changed forever, since the abuse.

McFarland was a neighbour of the victims at the time on Convent Rd, Carndonagh, and was friendly with the family.

The women revealed how their attacker would assault them in his kitchen. He would play games with them and ask the girls to put their hands into his pockets to retrieve sweets and keys.

Cathy fought back tears as she revealed how she had turned to drink and also tried to take her own life as a result of the vile attacks. She also suffered from anorexia and her weight reduced to 6st 5lbs at one stage.

She revealed how she suffered four miscarriages but, thankfully, had a loving partner and was trying to get her life back together.

She told her mother of the attacks and her mother then spoke with her daughters’ attacker. McFarland and his family moved from the area a number of months later.

Cathy initially went to gardaí in 2008 but said she did not have the courage to go ahead with the complaint but reactivated her statement in 2010.

Passing sentence, Judge John O’Hagan said that McFarland, of Oak Grove, Millfield, Buncrana, had been “calculating, predatory and manipulative”. He said the girls were only getting to know life and that they had their innocence taken from them. “That was absolutely crushed by Mr McFarland.”

The judge said he viewed the seriousness of the case, in the mid-range.

He sentenced McFarland to four and a half years for each of the 11 sample charges and ordered the sentences to run concurrently. He also placed McFarland on the sex offenders register.

Speaking after the court, the sisters said they were pleased that their attacker had been jailed.

They said they felt a huge sense of relief but were still annoyed that McFarland had not apologised or shown any sign of remorse.

Cathy said yesterday: “Today was never about the sentencing. It was for him to admit what he done and maybe show some remorse. But he didn’t. The case has been going on for five-and-a-half years and he had every opportunity to plead guilty and save us from going through all this.

“This act does not affect only the victims if affects their parents, partners, children, and their families, not to mention what his now family have gone through.

“We waived our right to anonymity to allow other people going through, or who have been through, the same as us to get help. They should not blame themselves. It was not their fault. There is a lot of help out there.”