15-year-old boy sentenced to 18 months detention for sexually abusing his young cousin

A teenager who repeatedly raped his “defenceless” younger cousin in their mutual grandparents' house has received 18 months detention.

The Central Criminal Court heard how a happy extended family structure has now been shattered as a result of the teenage boy repeatedly sexually abusing his younger cousin – a previously fun child, who was carefree until his cousin “preyed” on him.

The now 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to two counts of raping his cousin on dates between June 2021 and November 2022 when he was aged between 13 and 14 and his victim was aged between seven and eight.

The pleas were entered on a full facts basis, with the court hearing the teenager sexually assaulted the boy on around 10 to 13 occasions during the time period. Neither child can be named to protect their anonymity.

In emotional victim impact statements previously read out in court, the boy's parents outlined their devastation at discovering their nephew had been abusing their little boy and they described the difficulties he continues to face as a result.

The court also heard that the teenager himself is alleged to have been the victim of sexual offending while living with his mother. He is now living with his father and other family members who are supporting him in a more secure upbringing, defence counsel said.

Sentencing the teenager, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs described the evidence in the case and victim impact statements as “heart-breaking”.

She said if the accused had been an adult at the time of the offending a headline sentence of 10 years would be warranted.

A headline sentence of five years was set before imposing a three-year-term, having taken into account the mitigation in the case.

Ms Justice Biggs then imposed 18 months detention and ordered that the teenager be placed under 18 months supervision upon his ultimate release.

The teenager must never have any further contact with the victim – either directly or indirectly. He was also placed on the sex offender’s register for ten years.

A local garda detective told Maurice Coffey SC, prosecuting, that the abuse came to light in November 2022 when the boy and his younger siblings were staying in their grandparents' house, where the teenager, their first cousin, was also staying.

The victim told his mother that his cousin had been sexually abusing him for some time.

He said that the abuse started when he was aged seven and his cousin touched him was in his grandparents' sitting room. He estimated his cousin then sexually assaulted or raped him on 10 to 15 occasions when they were both in their grandparents' house. 

He described it happening while family members were in the kitchen, or downstairs. He said his cousin told him not to tell anyone.

When arrested by appointment, the teenager had a pre-prepared statement in which he made full admissions. He stated the abuse started in June 2021 with inappropriate touching and progressed to him carrying out oral sex on his younger cousin and then anal rape.

He said he believed he raped his cousin on three occasions. 

He also said that he had himself been the victim of sexual abuse from a young age before he came to live with his father. He has no previous convictions and has been receiving counselling since the abuse came to light, the court heard.

In her victim impact statement, which was read out by counsel, the mother described how her son had been a “carefree, fun little boy” before the abuse, but now he has had to go through things “no little child should go through”.

She recalled how her nephew had blatantly lied to her about being in her child's bed and that he had been abusing her son for the previous year, while family members were in the next room - “like a predator looking for prey”.

“Our family is now broken,” she said.

Ronan Munro SC, defending, said the family structure is now shattered as a result of the teenager's actions. “This is an appallingly difficult case for everyone involved,” Mr Munro said. 

He handed in a number of reports to the court which stated that the teenager is engaging fully with the appropriate services and is receiving counselling in relation to his harmful sexual behaviour as well as his own childhood abuse.