'I was a happy child' - Limerick pensioner repeatedly groped and sexually abused young girl

A NOW 75-year-old Limerick man repeatedly groped and sexually abused a young girl when they were neighbours more than 50 years ago, the Central Criminal Court has heard.

Tom White had regular access to the girl's house and repeatedly touched her inappropriately and subjected her to lewd commentary and physical abuse, a sentencing hearing was told this Monday.

White, the court heard, went on to marry, had three children and never came to garda attention during the intervening 50 years. His victim wishes for White to be named but wants to maintain her anonymity, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon was told.

White, of Brookhaven, Montpelier, County Limerick, was found guilty by a jury earlier this year of 10 counts of indecent assault of the girl at her home and his home in Limerick on dates between August 1971 and August 1976. He was acquitted of a number of other counts on the indictment.

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Indecent assault is a charge that carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment, Philipp Rahn SC, prosecuting, told the court.

The complainant was aged between 13 and 16 at the time of the offence, while White was in his 20s.

Detective Garda Claire Lewis told the court that White had regular access to the complainant's house as his mother did some work for the girl's family. The girl was terrified of both White and his mother, the court heard.

White regularly made lewd comments to the girl commenting on her figure and first assaulted her when she was sent over to his house to check on a meal that was being cooked. White grabbed her from behind and groped her private parts before “pumping” her from behind through her clothes, the court heard.

The girl was “dumbfounded, shocked and frightened”, the court heard. The abuse continued in a similar vein, with White regularly groping the girl both over and underneath her clothing. The abuse occurred several times a week and was described as “opportunistic”. He was also physically abusive towards her.

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At the trial, which was held at Limerick Courthouse, Mulgrave Street, the complainant's brother and sister also gave evidence of witnessing White engage in the abuse. It came to an end when the young woman moved out of home at the age of 16.

In her victim impact statement, which was read out by counsel, the woman said every part of her life was impacted by the “horror” she endured at the hands of White.

“I was a happy child with all the innocence that goes with childhood,” she said. “My childhood ended when my abuser invaded my home, my body, my mind and every part of my being. It shaped my life over the next 50 years.”

She said she was unable to tell anyone what happened to her and in a message for other victims of abuse she said: “You have a voice. Don't be afraid to tell anybody.”

Mark Nicholas SC, defending, said his client was found not guilty of a number of charges and he asked the court to noted he has a long work history and has been married for about 50 years. He has a number of health issues, including heart problems.

Ms Justice Eileen Creedon adjourned the matter for sentence on June 15. She remanded White on continuing bail until then.