Michael Martin sentenced to 13 years in jail for attempt to abduct young girl

Update 1.40pm:Judge Keenan Johnson described the attempted abduction as “an attack on family life”, while investigating Garda Anne Marie Deegan said the children deserved high praise for their courage.

She said: "The children's bravery and courage has to be acknowledged, hugely…from the initial stages of identifying the car involved and pointing us in the right direction from the beginning, and being able to do positive identification in the garda station later."

Earlier court coverage:

A convicted sex offender who tried to abduct an 11-year-old girl in Co Laois has been jailed for 13 years.

36-year-old Michael Martin of Shandon Court, Yellow Road in Waterford City bundled the girl into his jeep before her younger brother came to her rescue.

On March 4 last, the girl was playing with her 10-year-old twin brothers on a quiet country road near the village of Cullahill in Co Laois when Michael Martin pulled up in a stolen jeep and shoved her into the passenger seat.

One of her brothers gave chase and clung onto the driver’s door, punching her abductor while dangling off the side of the moving jeep.

His brave actions distracted him long enough for her to escape, and Michael Martin (pictured) was arrested the following day.

In a victim impact statement, the girl’s father said a big part of her innocence was stolen that day, and they moved back to the US because they no longer felt safe here.

If he had the option, Judge Keenan Johnson today said he would have imposed a life sentence, not as a punishment but rather to protect society from the 36-year-old.

Instead, he handed down a 17-year sentence with four years suspended and ordered that Michael Martin be properly assessed before being released.