A 60-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for multiple counts of historic sexual abuse of a work colleague’s child while he waited in an office to go to school.
Ronan Farrell previously from Derrygonnelly but later residing in Belfast, denied nine counts of indecent assault between 1982 and 1984 but was convicted of all at trial.
Offending occurred when the boy was preparing to sit his transfer test and was taking extra lessons ahead of this in the mornings before school started.
His school was close to his father’s workplace and the boy would travel with him and wait in an office until classes began.
The office was predominantly used by male staff including Farrell and there were posters of scantily clad women on the walls.
He noticed the boy looking at these and thereafter provided him with adult magazines which were “highly unsuitable for a child”.
The abuse began with Farrell touching the boy’s genitals over his clothes then progressed to direct sexual contact, during which he would kiss him. Offending developed to Farrell having the boy carry out oral sex on him.
The abuse ended when he left for another job elsewhere.
Throughout trial at Dungannon Crown Court Farrell, an electronic service engineer in the shipping industry, denied any abuse ever occurred.
He knew the boy’s father given his role in the company and there had never been any issue with him.
Farrell recalled the victim being about the office for a time while he waited to go to school but insisted there was never engagement or interaction.
However, the jury did not believe him and convicted him on all counts. The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports and on return yesterday (Tuesday) Judge Fiona Bagnall noted Farrell continues to maintain his innocence.
She said the offending was aggravated as he had been, “In a position of trust by knowing the child’s father, and the abuse was repeated.”
It was accepted Farrell was a young man of between 18 and 20 when the abuse occurred, however he, “Was of course still considerably older than the victim who was just 10 or 11, vulnerable and not sexually aware.”
Farrell, she said, “Exploited an opportunity to abuse the victim, used sexualised talk, and gave him access to magazines which were unsuitable for a boy of his age.”
Judge Bagnall referred to the pre-sentence report in which Farrell, when continuing to deny the offences, claimed to have a specific disfiguration which the victim would have seen if the abuse occurred.
However, this was not disclosed at trial and when asked why, Farrell claimed to have been too embarrassed. He also repeated claims the victim was following him for a number of years before the trial.
While assessed as a low likelihood of reoffending and not at risk of causing serious harm, “There is a level of victim-blaming,” said the judge.
She continued, “When a child of the age in this case is subjected to the abuse perpetrated, the long-term impact is significant. The victim says following the abuse he was left very confused and blamed himself, believing he was complicit. He felt shame and considered this his dirty secret. He tried to bury the memories they came back at different times in his life. There were times he didn’t care if he lived or died.
Judge Bagnall said, “The courts have consistently warned that offences against children will result in custodial sentences.”
She imposed a combined term of four-and-a-half years and ordered Farrell to remain on the Sex Offender Register indefinity.
To read more on this story see this week’s Fermanagh Herald. Can’t get to the shop to collect your copy? No problem! You can download a copy straight to your device by following this link… Subscribe to current edition
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere