'I was an innocent child' — Man jailed for sexually assaulting wife's goddaughter, 16

Seven letters of support for defendant read out in court or given to judge, including one from wife and employer

Michael King, 52, of Boyle, Co. Roscommon, was found guilty at Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court in March by a unanimous verdict of 12 sexual assault charges against Tara Kelly, who has waived her right to anonymity.

A former second-hand car salesman and father-of-six has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for the grooming and sexual assault of his wife’s teenage goddaughter.

Michael King, 52, of Boyle, Co. Roscommon, was found guilty at Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court in March by a unanimous verdict of 12 sexual assault charges against Tara Kelly, who has waived her right to anonymity. The assaults took place at Warren View, Boyle, on dates unknown between December 2004 and May 2005, when Ms Kelly was 16 years old.