A 78-year-old former scout leader has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison – with the final six months suspended – after he was found guilty of indecently assaulting five young boys when they were members of his scout troop in Co Cork more than 30 years ago.
Noel Sheehan, of Chimneyfields, Glenville, Co Cork, had denied the 17 charges.
He refused to accept the jury’s verdicts and express any remorse at his sentencing hearing today.
Sheehan, a retired hospital porter, was unanimously found guilty on 16 of 17 charges by a jury of eight men and four women last April.
The trial heard evidence that Sheehan indecently assaulted the young boys by touching and fondling their private parts both inside and outside their clothing while away on camping weekends on dates between 1987 and 1990.
At Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Helen Boyle commended the victims for their bravery in coming forward and trying to overcome the issues they experienced through no fault of their own.
“These have had a significant effect on the victims, now adults, all of whom have eloquently set out the devastating effect on their lives. It is clear that these assaults impacted on every area of their lives.
“It is striking that three out of five had issues with substance abuse while they were trying to deal with these issues from their childhood, none of which were their fault.”
