Man who sexually abused neighbour and sister's friend, age 10, is jailed for three years

A woman who was sexually abused by her friend’s older brother and neighbour has said that the jury’s verdict, which led to his conviction, was “like a black cloud being lifted”.

Grace Kelly waived her anonymity to allow Paul O’Brien (47) to be named in reporting the case.

O’Brien of Forest Park, Killygordon, Co Donegal, had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to 15 counts of sexual assault on dates between January 1 and December 1995.

A jury found him guilty of six of these counts following a nine-day trial last November.

Ms Kelly (39) was between nine and 10 years old at the time, while O’Brien was 19.

Garda Rory McGowan told Shane Geraghty BL, prosecuting, that Ms Kelly and O’Brien were neighbours at the time and she was best friends with O’Brien’s younger sister.

She visited their family home and frequently played computer games with O’Brien which was when the sex assaults occurred.

The abuse involved kissing her and making her touch his penis and kissing her breasts. He would hold his foot against the door to prevent others coming into the room.

Ms Kelly later told gardaí that O’Brien told her she was “lovely and pretty” and used to give her “sweets and fizzy drinks”. The girls stopped hanging around together after primary school and Ms Kelly said she “blanked it out” but it later played on her mind and she eventually disclosed the abuse.

The court heard that O’Brien has served in the army and has no previous convictions.

Ms Kelly read her victim impact statement and said: “I am still suffering from the fact that when I was 10 years old, I was sexually abused by my friend’s big brother,” before she added that the abuse “tore me into pieces for a long time”.

“He tricked me into thinking it was acceptable for him to touch me in a sexual way.”

Colm Smyth SC, defending, said O’Brien still maintains his innocence. He had served 21 years in the armed forces and was discharged following the allegations.