Convicted child rapist Walsh jailed for 10 years

Convicted child rapist and gangland criminal Stephen ‘Rossi’ Walsh has been jailed for 10 years for the sexual assault and defilement of a child.

Walsh (aged 64) formerly of Belgrave Road, Rathgar and also Harolds Cross Road, Harolds Cross, was already serving 10 years for the rape and indecent assault of two girls aged nine and seven.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court had entered pleas of not guilty on behalf of Walsh, to 14 counts of sexual assault and defilement of a child on dates between August 1, 2008 and January 6, 2009.

During the sentencing hearing the now 18-year-old victim broke down as she described the “appalling nature” of the crimes committed on her when she was aged 14 and 15.

She said she wanted the court to know what how much Walsh hurt her.

She said: “I had to go through a very difficult cross examination to get justice. The crimes he committed were appalling. No-one else should have to go through that.

“He doesn't realise the hurt he has caused me or my family. He's not even sorry for what he did. Why did he do this to me? That has never been answered because he has no remorse for what he did.”

After a 17-day trial and under two hours of deliberation the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on 11 counts - two of sexual assault and nine of defilement.

Judge Desmond Hogan had previously withdrawn three counts of defilement as no evidence was heard in relation to them.

Judge Hogan said that the offenses were committed in a “most conniving way” and that Walsh had “wormed his way into the victim’s affections” for his own “base sexual gratification”.

He noted that Walsh had acted in this “deceitful way” and perpetrated his crimes while he was on bail.

He said Walsh had little regard for the victim’s affections or for her family, who had trusted him, when he had committed some of the offences in the family home.

Walsh, who represented himself after sacking his legal team in the final days of the trial, did not react to the sentence.

After the jury returned their verdict he immediately indicated he intends to appeal his conviction.

During the trial the victim told prosecution counsel, Ms Tara Burns BL, that she was first introduced to Walsh, a friend of her fathers, when she was in sixth class.

He became a regular visitor to her home and in July 2008, when she was aged 14, he moved in permanently with the family.

He had given the family address as part of his conditions for bail after been charged with a separate rape.

She said that on the day he moved in, he gave her a letter where he had written that he loved her "more than she could ever imagine" and couldn't wait to give her "a big hug".

The girl broke down as she told the jury that approximately two weeks after he moved in she was at home alone with Walsh when he suggested they have a staring match.

He kept edging closer to her and she put her two hands up "because I was scared". He then told her he was going to “get involved" with her and later said he loved her.

Approximately two weeks later she and Walsh were alone again when he brought her to a bedroom in the home and attempted to have sexual intercourse with her. He then digitally penetrated her.

She said that on the next occasion he brought her to a house in Glasthule where he had full sexual intercourse with her, which caused her to bleed.

She said. “I asked him to stop but he continued to do it. I asked him to stop because the pain was so bad".

Judge Hogan imposed a sentence of 12 years each on three counts of defilement, which each carry maximum sentences of life. He suspended two years on each of these and ordered that all sentences should be served on termination of the rape sentenced imposed in February 2010, which is due to expire in 2019.