Supreme Court names dancing teacher who abused former pupil

The Supreme Court has today cleared the way for an Irish dancing teacher, found to have sexually abused a former pupil, to be named.

Michael Quigley (aged 68) of Barnhill Park, Letterkenny has been ordered to pay €400,000 damages by the High Court for abusing a young girl in the 1980s.

Michael Quigley tried to stop his name from being published after the High Court found he had sexually abused a former dancing pupil between 1982 and 1989.

Now in her 40s, the woman gave evidence that she was 12 when he first sexually assaulted her, but that he had begun grooming her at the age of six.

Mr Justice Sean Ryan found the Irish dance teacher had also interfered with two other girls.

Quigley went all the way to the Supreme Court today to try and stop his name from being published until the outcome of a planned appeal, citing his family's reputation.

But he lost his case, much to the relief of the woman he was found to have abused as a young girl, who cried and hugged friends and supporters, relived that the ordeal is now over.