Kilkenny man who sexually abused eight children jailed for 19 years

A Kilkenny man who sexually abused eight boys has been sentenced to 19 years in prison.

The Central Criminal Court heard how John Curtin’s abuse of children, which began 30 years ago and continued for 12 years, deeply affected victims throughout their lives.

They variously described Curtin, 59, as a “monster,” “evil,” “scum,” and a “creep.”

The court heard how the psychological effects of the abuse devastated the lives of Curtin’s victims as they grew up and started families of their own. They described how their education, relationships, mental health and employment were negatively affected by the ongoing impact of the abuse.

Some of the men told the court they had turned to drink or drugs and were considering suicide.

Curtin, whose address was Salome Place, Monmeenroe, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, was convicted by a jury last May of 78 charges, which included oral rape, anal rape and sexual assault against eight teenage boys between 1995 and 2007. He has no previous criminal record.

The complainants, who are now adults, said they wanted to maintain their anonymity but had no problem with Curtin being named.

sentence passing today/yesterday (MON), Lady Justice Eileen Creeden said it was clear from all of the men’s victim statements that they found the court process extremely difficult and were re-traumatized by having to go back and relive the events in evidence.

He said abuse had a profoundly negative impact on men’s entire lives, including their relationships, family dynamics, ability to trust and their inability to reach their full potential in life.

The judge said that Curtin’s rehabilitation and reintegration into society should be ensured, but the psychological evaluation stated that Curtin continued to deny the accusations and was diagnosed with a depressive disorder.

He said he would benefit from participating in a sex offender treatment program to address and reduce the risk of re-offending.

Mrs Justice Creedon imposed a headline sentence of 20 years. He said he could not detect any mitigation, noting that Curtin had contested the case in its entirety and had not made any apologies or accepted the jury’s verdicts.

He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the final year suspended for one year, for conditions that included probation supervision, participation in a sex offender treatment program and no contact with children.

During the trial, the court heard eight young boys accused told how Curtin abused them at their home and in a number of other rural areas. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn SC said Curtin followed a similar pattern in each case when he was about 11 years old, “getting them to talk with the offer of cigarettes” and then inviting them to his home where he “took advantage of their innocence”. , naivety and confusion”.

Curtin encouraged children to touch him, and in some cases the abuse escalated to anal or oral rape. He also encouraged some boys to get into his car with the promise that they could sit on his lap and steer the car. Curtin used this opportunity to exploit them.

The first boy was sexually assaulted and anally raped by the man between 1995 and 1996, when he was between 11 and 13 years old.

In his victim impact statement, the man described the negative and ongoing effects of the abuse on his life and family. He told the court the court process was a “huge burden” on them but said he would “do it all over again” to jail a rapist and child molester like Curtin.

Between 1997 and 1999, a second male, aged between 11 and 12, was sexually assaulted.

The man told the court the crimes had left a lasting impact on him but he hoped he could move on now that it was over. “So many people’s lives have been affected,” he said, “now it’s time for John Curtin’s life to be affected and for him to pay the price for his actions.”

A third boy was sexually assaulted, including both anal and oral rape, between 1996 and 2000, when he was aged 11 to 13.

In her victim impact statement she described how she had previously been disappointed with the case but now hoped she would receive justice.

The fourth boy was between 11 and 13 years old when he was sexually assaulted by a man between 1999 and 2000.

In his victim impact statement the man outlined the serious effects of the abuse on his life and relationships. He described feeling like he wasn’t working to his full ability and could only try so hard before depression and anxiety set in. Family relationships were damaged and difficult.

He described the trauma and isolation he felt and told the court that “people are generally ignorant” about the impact sexual offenses can have on a person’s life.

The fifth victim was the same age when she was sexually assaulted by Curtin.

In her victim impact statement, she told the court Curtin’s “disgusting actions” had ruined her entire life in ways she could never have imagined. He said his education, relationships, life and work were affected. He said he tried to be happy on the outside but felt “dead” on the inside.

The sixth child was verbally and anally raped and sexually assaulted by the defendant between 1999 and 2003, when she was between the ages of 10 and 15.

In her victim impact statement she told the court her perspective on life was different since the abuse. He said that Curtin, whom he called an “evil man”, had taken away his youth and innocence.

He described how he behaved, got angry, and had difficulty with relationships. He said he wouldn’t let his family help him because he was ashamed and ashamed.

He said Curtin had ruined lives and people should not be allowed to go through it again.

The seventh boy was sexually assaulted more frequently than other boys; Curtin was convicted of 27 counts of sexual assault and anal rape against her between 2001 and 2006, when she was aged 12 to 16.

In his victim impact statement, the man described how his life had been turned upside down by the crimes committed. “This broke me inside and out,” she said, “I turned my back on the world because I didn’t know who I could trust.”

The last of the boys was sexually assaulted and orally raped by the man on dates between 1999 and 2003, when he was aged 10 to 16.

In his victim impact statement, the man told the court the abuse made him feel different from everyone else. He described the huge impact on his life growing up suffering with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

She said she had missed out on many opportunities due to the impact the abuse had on her life, but now she wants to put this behind her and live a happy, normal life by regaining her self-esteem and confidence.

Some of the children reported the abuse in 2000 and gardaí were alerted, but the case did not progress. The abuse resurfaced during an investigation several years later, and the revelation led to other men coming forward.

Ms McGinn said that in the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecutions this incident fell into the highest category of offense and a headline sentence of up to life imprisonment was imposed. Rosin Lacey SC, defending, said Curtin continued to deny the charges and did not accept the jury’s verdicts.

He said Curtin was a father of four and had recently lost his wife. She had come to Ireland from England after witnessing domestic violence as a child. He worked as a porter at Kilkenny Hospital for several years.

He has a significant history of psychological depression and anxiety. He has been engaged in services in the community regarding these issues. Ms Lacey handed over letters from three of her children and three other family friends about their experiences with Curtin and details of her mental health problems.

The lawyer asked the court to ensure Curtin is given light at the end of the tunnel.
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