Man, 88, jailed for three years for sexual assault of children - Donegal News

A Ramelton man appeared before Letterkenny circuit court for sentencing on Tuesday.

A RAMELTON man appeared before Letterkenny Circuit Court for sentencing on Tuesday.

The case was heard in-camera and the Judge made an order prohibiting publication of details that would identify the victims but did not restrict naming the defendant.

The court heard how Sean Norry (88) of St Mary’s Terrace, Ramelton , sexually assaulted two girls when they were between 12 and 14 years old.

Norry went forward on a signed plea on four counts of sexual assault and one count of inciting a child to sexual touching.

The court heard of the seriously negative impact the abuse had on the victims and the gross breach of trust by Norry.

Judge John Aylmer told the court that the tariff for the first four counts of sexual assault was six years before mitigation, and two years for the lesser counts of incitement to sexual touching.

On mitigation, Judge Aylmer said that the defendant had come before the court on a signed plea and the complainants did not have to suffer the ordeal of a trial.

Noting the defendants age, Judge Aylmer said that because of Norry’s advanced years a short custodial sentence could in effect be a life sentence, and that Norry had a low risk of re-offending.

Judge Aylmer went on to say that Norry, despite having no previous convictions “claims to be ashamed of his actions,” but in his probation report he “tends to minimise his offending” and “lacks empathy”.

The court heard how Norry has poor mobility, poor health but no acute medical conditions.

Judge Aylmer taking account of mitigation, sentenced Norry to four years in jail on four counts of sexual assault and 16 months for the lesser sexual offences, to run concurrently. He suspended the final 12 months of Norry’s sentence on a bond of good behaviour and keeping the peace for a year on release.

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