Connemara man found guilty of sex abuse of schoolboy

James Kelly, a native of Connemara, who has lived in Galway city since 1981, and now resides at 22 Beal Srutha, Ballybane, denied sixteen charges of indecently assaulting the boy between January 1976 and December, 1979.

The three-day trial at Galway Circuit Criminal Court was told the accused told the then victim that what he and the victim was doing was wrong and if he told anyone he would be taken away from his family.

Prosecuting barrister, Conor Fahy told the jury of six men and six women that the accused was 21 when he started to abuse the boy who was aged 6 or 7 at the time.

The victim, who is now 44, said the abuse started with touching and escalated as time progressed.

He said it took place every day at various locations, including a church, a school and a business premises.

The victim said he told his parents about the abuse in 2003 and finally made a complaint to Gardai in 2007 when he became concerned for his own children’s safety.

The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on all sixteen charges.

Prosecuting State barrister, Conor Fahy, objected to an application by defence counsel, Bernard Madden to grant Kelly bail pending sentence.

Judge Rory McCabe said that in the interests of justice, Kelly had to be remanded in custody.

Judge McCabe remanded Kelly in custody to appear before the court again on February 18th next for sentence.