Man jailed for ten years for molestation of teenage boy

A convicted sex offender has been jailed for ten years for molesting a 14-year-old boy in a Kerry town over two years ago.

49-year-old John Prendiville - of no fixed abode - pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexually assaulting the child, who had been in a residential care at the time, on May 12, 2012.

The court heard that Prendiville's 33 previous convictions include - five for sexual assault and four for failing to notify gardaí under the Sex Offender’s Act.

Mr Justice Paul Carney suspended the final two years of a 12-year prison sentence on condition that Prendiville stay away from the victim and undergo 18 months of post release supervision.