GALWAY MAN LOSES SEXUAL ABUSE APPEAL

Date Published: 20-Oct-2011

A 74 year old Galway man has lost his appeal against his conviction for sexually abusing two young sisters on a regular basis over more than a decade.

Anthony Hardiman, of Cardinal Cushing Road, Mervue, was convicted by a jury in 2009 of more than 50 charges of indecent assault against the sisters and one count of buggery against one of the girls on dates between 1968 and 1980.

He had denied the charges.

Judge Raymond Groake subsequently jailed Hardiman for a total of seven years, with the final year suspended on terms.

The Irish Examiner reports the court of Criminal appeal yesterday dismissed all grounds of the appeal and rejected claims that the conviction was unsafe.