Abuser at 'high risk' of re-offending

A man who sexually abused at least 15 children in west Cork at a time when some were as young as two years of age was described today as being at a high risk of re-offending.

Kevin Scully, (aged 26), of Glounaphuca, Caharagh, Drimoleague, County Cork, used a scissors to cut the pants pockets of many of the young victims so that he could interfere with them. In some cases he told the children he would kill them if they told on him.

Detective Garda Bart O’Leary said, “At first he came across as a simple country boy, then this can of worms opened up.”

The detective said the families of the victims wanted Scully to be identified.

In order to protect the injured parties from public identification it is not possible to outline some of the details of the many sexual assaults which he committed at various locations in west Cork.

One boy was sexually abused on his fourth birthday. Several of the children described being in fear of Scully. The defendant told some children he would kill them if they told their parents. Other children were told that if they told their mother then they would be in trouble with their parents and that he (Scully) would not stop doing what he was doing to them.

Victim impact reports were not prepared.

Det. Gda O’Leary said: “Some parents felt it was not appropriate to give victim impact reports, that it happened some time ago. They are hoping for the best, that the children won’t be affected saying they were so young. Other parents say, how do we know the effect of this abuse? It may not be until later in their lives that the effect of this abuse will come to light. Some of the boys mentioned in the case who are teenagers now, they definitely have problems.”

Scully, who has been in some kind of detention or residential treatment since the offences of 1997 to 2000 came to light in 2000 was to be sentenced for his crimes yesterday.

Noting the absence of the victim impact reports Judge Patrick J. Moran said he needed to hear from social workers about the impact of the crimes on the children who were aged between 2 and 8 when the crimes were committed.

Scully was remanded in custody for sentencing on February 9.