Former Limerick soldier jailed for sexually abusing girl before her Holy Communion

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A MEMBER of the Defence Forces whose duty it was to “serve and protect fellow citizens, took advantage of his position, to abuse two children”, including one incident shortly before one girl’s Holy Communion, a court has heard.

The accused - Edward Lillis, aged 63, of Shannonvale, Old Cratloe Road, Limerick city - can be named for the first time after Judge Colin Daly lifted reporting restrictions.

Lillis was found guilty, by a jury, of two indecent assaults on Miss A and two indecent assaults on Miss B, on different dates in the 1980s when they were aged between three and eight-years-old. The jury could not agree on a fifth count.

The case was adjourned to last Monday at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court for Judge Daly to pass sentence.

READ MORE: Two women sexually abused as children in Limerick want paedophile named

The judge, in summarising the evidence, said the two indecent assaults on Miss B occurred between September 1982 and December 1984 when she was aged between five years and seven years of age. Lillis was between 21 and 23-years-old at the time and 16 years older than Miss B. 

“Her first complaint is that Lillis told her to pull down her pants and underwear and then he took out his penis and asked her to touch and kiss his penis. He touched and kissed her vagina. Her second complaint is that he had her kiss his penis.  She remembers this happened very shortly before her first Holy Communion,” said Judge Daly.

He said Miss B bravely disclosed the abuse to her parents who contacted gardai. Lillis denied the accusations when interviewed by gardai. A file was sent to the DPP who decided not to prosecute.

Lillis indecently assaulted Miss A on two separate occasions between June 1984 and May 1989 when she was aged between three and eight- years-old.

“He pulled her underwear aside and rubbed his penis against her vagina. The next complaint is Lillis placing her hand on his penis outside his underwear and rubbing his penis with it,” said the judge.

Lillis told her they were boyfriend and girlfriend and were going to get married, which Judge Daly said was “grooming”. Lillis was aged between 22 and 27 at the time.

The judge said Miss A and Miss B set out in their victim impact statements the psychological damage they have suffered, the innocence of their childhoods being taken, and the consequences to their families. Judge Daly spoke of how dignified they have been.  

“Lillis was a responsible member of the army, someone to serve and protect fellow citizens. He took advantage of his position to abuse the two children.

“The pattern of abuse and serial nature of his offending is a further aggravating factor, and the fact that each of these incidents appears as part of a series of offending behaviour that went on over a prolonged period of time,” said Judge Daly.

Lillis’ counsel had indicated his client’s acceptance of the jury’s verdict and that his offending behaviour had an extremely damaging effect on both of his victims.

Judge Daly said: “I hope that both victims will take some small comfort in these acknowledgements.”

The court heard Lillis is married, has three adult children, spent a full career in the army and has no previous convictions. 

Judge Daly handed down concurrent three-year jail sentences on each of the two indecent assaults on Miss B.

Judge Daly imposed concurrent three-and-a-half year jail sentences on each of the two indecent assaults on Miss A. They are all to be served concurrently. Lillis was placed on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.

The case was investigated by the Limerick Divisional Protective Services Unit with Detective Garda James Muldowney giving evidence in court.

Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, said the victims do not wish to be identified but there is no bar to the accused being identified. 

Judge Daly said nothing should be published which would serve to identify either of the victims. 

“There is no prohibition on the identification of the accused,” said Judge Daly.

In a statement to Limerick Live following the sentencing hearing, the Defence Forces say they "unequivocally condemn any actions by serving personnel that are contrary to or do not reflect our values. This behaviour is incompatible with service in Óglaigh na hÉireann".