'Prolific paedophile' who sexually abused five young boy scouts fails to get sentence cut

Jim Harmon's counsel said the challenge in sentencing was not to lose sight of the defendant

Jim Harmon will serve the original sentence of six years and eight months. File photo

“A prolific paedophile” who is now 83 years old and serving a sentence of six years and eight months for the sexual abuse of young boy scouts in the 1970s and early 1980s failed in his appeal against the severity of his sentence on Monday.

Jim Harmon brought the appeal before the Court of Criminal Appeal sitting in Cork where Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, Ms Justice Nuala Butler and Mr Justice Anthony Michael Collins reached a decision delivered by Mr Justice McCarthy: “We are of the view that the appeal should fail.”