Jail sentence for man who groped babysitter

A 56-year-old Dublin man has been jailed for 18 months for sexually assaulting a babysitter.

William Canty “slipped away” from a family celebration and went back to his home where he groped the young woman and exposed himself

Canty of Willsbrook Drive, Lucan had pleaded not guilty to the sexual assault of the girl in May 1997. He was found guilty of a single charge by a jury following a trial earlier this year at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has no previous convictions and maintains his innocence.

Judge Patrick McCartan said the offence was at the lower range of sexual assault but it was a “serious breech of trust between an adult and a young woman.”

He said the offence was aggravated by the “devious way” Canty went about it and said it was regrettable that Canty did not have “the courage or humility or humanity” to apologise.

“This court knows that such an expression can go along way towards vindicating the hurt done,” he said.

Judge McCartan said the victim impact statement, which was not read to the court, was “remarkably eloquent” and illustrated that she was a young woman of high intelligence.

Garda Deirdre Walsh told Ms Melanie Greally BL, prosecuting, that the young woman had been babysitting for Canty while he and his wife went to a family celebration. At some point in the night Canty, who was inebriated, left the group and made his way home on foot.

The young woman, who was wearing a football jersey, was in the sitting room and Canty began touching the crest on her top. This developed into groping. He then exposed himself.

The babysitter locked herself into a bathroom and when her parents came to the house she was ready to leave and was angry and distressed.

Gda Walsh said the incident came to the attention of the gardaí in October 2007 and Canty made a voluntary statement denying the allegation.

Defence counsel, Mr Paul McDermott SC, said his client, a married father-of-two, had a history of maintenance and factory work.

He said Canty does not accept the allegation and handed in testimonials to the court.

He also handed in a medical report and said Canty had recently been diagnosed with haemochromatosis.

Mr McDermott said Canty now stands in front of the court without his reputation and his family have to live with the shame of his conviction.